Ready for AIIMS cricket league?

The institute is planning to invite teams from several organisations for the 2012 edition

Just what the doctor ordered! Even as the IPL fever rages on, plans are afoot for ACL. The AIIMS Cricket League is likely to be a big-ticket event, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences planning to introduce participants from other elite institutions of the country in the tournament.


Game plan: Residents Cricket League (RCL)was organised by the
Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS during the Cricket
World Cup in which more that 105 doctors from the campus had
participated. file pic

Residents at the institute have begun tying up with renowned organisations like Lady Harding Medical College (LHMC), Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), and are also talking to educational institutes such as Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and IIT. The event is likely to be held in February-March 2012.
"After the success of Residents Cricket League (RCL), in which more than 105 doctors participated, we want a bigger game this time. The winners of the RCL will be competing with the other participants," said Dr Debjyoti Karmakar, President, Resident Doctors' Association, AIIMS.

The doctors at MAMC and LHMC are extremely excited about participating in the event as it will give them a chance to gel with their counterparts. "We also have our own premier league in the college; however the initiative by AIIMS is more than welcome. It will be a good fun and great recreational activity for all of us," said Anuj Sharma, Member, Azad Medical Association.

The residents have already posted the information on their official pages on social networking sites like Facebook. They have their posts available on a page called "RDA AIIMS". When asked about the ACL and the idea behind it, Dr Bhaumik Shah, Secretary, RCL said: "It was after the success of RCL that it occurred to us, why not take it to an inter-institution level. I am sure it will turn out to be a greater triumph. We are so excited about the matches."

Groundwork
Shah also said that they are working on the infrastructure aspect. "It will be a big event, so we need to have a bigger pitch, new equipment and a complete streamlined set of guidelines to set the event in place," added Shah. Delhi University, which has been quite cold on the sports front all through 2010 is looking forward to the ACL and some activity. The sports department is yet to receive a formal intimation for participation. However, the sports heads are pleased at the idea of the university and the medical league to play some shots together. On the other hand, JNU, which has a number of cricket teams, is as enthusiastic about the event.

"It's a brilliant idea. The university has seen near to no sporting activity the previous year due to the Commonwealth Games. We are looking forward to the event," said SK Chakraborty, Dean, St. Stephens College.
"We have our own cricket teams in JNU but till now we haven't received any word on it. A big cricket event is sure to drive many of the players ecstatic. We are going to have a ball if we are roped in," said Vismay Bose, Vice -President, All India Students' Association (AISA) at JNU.

'Live-in'
AIIMS is a residential university where the faculty members, staff and students live on either the main campus or one of the several campuses which form a part of the Institution. There are five hostels for men undergraduate students and a single hostel available for women undergraduate students. These six hostels together can accommodate 850 students. For Post-graduate students, there are three hostels for the men students and married couples while a single hostel for the women students. Additional hostels for Nursing students and Post-graduate students are available at a facility in the Masjid Moth area. Hostels for MBBS/ MD /nursing students are also located at Ballabgarh, Dayalpur and Chainsa used during Ballabgarh posting.