IndiaPost.com - Edison grants a playground for cricket players

NEW JERSEY: Edison township has granted the Edison Cricket Club (ECC) a home ground in Edison. Announcing the grant, ECC president Atul Huckoo thanked town Mayor Jun Choi and said the Internal Revenue Service has formally granted ECC a non-profit organization status.

"Now that we have a home ground, we will have an additional Edison team within a few weeks. The second team will play friendly cricket in the beginning and will start playing league-level cricket from 2009 summer season onwards," Huckoo said.

ECC, launched with an aim to promoting cricket in the heavily Indian populated Edison Township, kicked off its 2008 cricket season that coincided with the launch of a revamped website for the club.

Huckoo said that the ECC also plans to start charity events and hold a blood collection drive later this year. He also introduced the members to some of the new features on the revamped Club's website and the "Events Calendar" which displays all the details regarding the match day, venue and its direction of the ground and information on the rival team.

Diamond Essence, the best simulated diamond ever created, available through catalog & web has agreed to sponsor this feature on the website. The website also features a "Sportsman of the Week" link which will highlight the best batsman's, best bowler and 'Man of the Match' of the week. In order to perform better on the field, the Edison Cricket Club has instituted a 'Man of the Match' award for their player which carries a cash amount of $50 per game which is sponsored by Effexoft, a global IT consulting, software solutions and product company.

The website is expected to regularly update to keep cricket enthusiasts informed about the latest development in the game. Earlier, Santosh Kumar, the sectary of the club welcomed all Club members and explained the agenda of the evening. Fahad Sultan of Emirates Airline that has supported ECC ever since its inception four years back said, "Edison Cricket Club is one of the few very professionally managed clubs in the country and we are very happy with their performance both on the field and all the actives they do in promoting cricket off the field within this region."

Huckoo expressed gratitude to Emirates Airline, State Bank of India, Makemytrip.com Kingfisher Beverages for their continued support over the year and welcomed the new sponsors namely Effexoft, Diamond Essence, Print Today, Signs by Today, Sunshine Foods and Glaceau the producer of Smart and Vitamin Water.

Sriram Srinivasan, the captain of Edison Cricket Club, explained the principle aims of ECC are to foster team spirit, play with the highest competitive spirit while treating all players and officials with the utmost respect. "While respecting all cricketing official and opposing teams we should aim and continue our passion for excelling our performance in each game," he added.

"We should maintain the image of ECC as a competitive but responsible club in the society as we owe it to the people associated with our club as well as ourselves to be role models not only within the cricketing fraternity but in the community at large".

He also explained the importance of volunteering not only in the club activities but in various activities within the local community. Lastly, Edison Cricket Club leadership also welcomed the new members Raja Shah, Ali Khan, Srujal Parikh, Chetan Bhake and Srikanth Vadlamudi and expressed hope that more players would join the club as the season progress.