The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is one of the members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ACA is the authorised association for organising cricket matches and other official events in the state. The ACA was established in the year 1953, with the two great cricket players from Andhra Pradesh, C. K. Naidu and C. S. Naidu, and Mushtaq Ali playing a festival match for marking the foundation. The association is controlled by the BCCI, apex organization for cricket in India. It arranges domestic and international matches for the association.
Origin of Andhra Cricket Association:
Cricket was being played in an organised way in the state of Andhra Pradesh even before the formation of the Andhra Cricket Association. There were a few clubs which were born in Guntur District around the year 1952. Initiatives were taken to start cricket clubs in various parts of Andhra Pradesh after it had separated from Madras (now Chennai). Later on, they elected to join together to form an association which was named as the Andhra Cricket Association in Guntur District. The club was inaugurated in Col. C.K. Naidu. After the ACA was formed in 1953, another cricket organisation formed in the year of 1962. It was the Vishakhapatnam District Cricket Association that boosted the cricket scenario in the state and ACA gradually became the leading cricket organisation in Andhra Pradesh.
Activities of Andhra Cricket Association:
Apart from organising cricket matches and other official events, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) also conducts some other activities like honouring the famous sportspersons for their achievements. The ACA always gets alliance from the Vishakhapatnam District Cricket Association, while organising various events and the two organisations have successfully organised a number of events, during their journey so far. The Indira Priyadarsini Municipal Corporation Stadium is the principal venue for organising cricket matches, in the state. The Andhra Cricket Association is also continuously trying hard to promote the players from the state to get a berth in the Indian national cricket team. Apart from that, the organisation is quite dedicated in developing the entire cricket-playing scenario in the state, as well.
The Andhra Cricket Association supports and develops Cricket by conducting various League Tournaments, Tournaments for the age group Under-14, Under-16, and Under-19, Under-22 and Under-25 categories besides organizing and conducting National Tournaments.