Nara Lokesh Seeks Cricket Partnership Between Andhra Pradesh and Victoria

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, met senior executives of Cricket Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday to explore collaboration opportunities between Andhra Pradesh and Victoria in the field of cricket. The meeting focused on talent development, cricket education, and strengthening sports ties between India and Australia.

Lokesh highlighted that the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has been actively promoting cricket through the Andhra Premier League (APL), a state-level tournament aimed at identifying and nurturing local talent. He proudly mentioned that several APL players, including Shaik Rasheed, Thripurna Vijay, Nitish Reddy, Satyanarayana Raju, and Paila Avinash, were shortlisted for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Many former APL players have also advanced to various IPL teams, reflecting the success of the initiative in grooming future stars.

During discussions, Lokesh proposed joint training camps, friendly matches, and exchange programs between Andhra Pradesh and Victoria. He emphasized the importance of promoting women’s cricket, sustainable sports facilities, and fan engagement through digital platforms such as live streaming and social media.

Cricket Victoria officials responded positively, expressing keen interest in collaborating on cricket education programs, including diploma and degree courses in cricket studies. They revealed plans to establish a cricket academy in India to provide structured training and academic support to aspiring players. The representatives also reiterated their commitment to advancing women’s cricket and community-level engagement.

Cricket Victoria currently manages the state’s top men’s and women’s teams — the Victoria Bushrangers and Victoria Spirit — which participate in prestigious tournaments like the Sheffield Shield, Marsh One-Day Cup, WNCL, and WBBL. The organization continues to invest in infrastructure and grassroots programs to nurture emerging talent across Victoria.