IANS

New Delhi, Aug 13: The Indian cricket board on Thursday announced that it would give Rs.250 million as grant to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the next two years for the development of football in the country.

AIFF president Praful Patel had apparently approached his party colleague and former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar to get some fund from the cricket board to prepare the national football team for the 2011 Asian Cup. Pawar is also the president-elect of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The BCCI working committee's decision to grant a hefty sum for the development of football was lauded by the AIFF.

AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta told IANS that it was a great gesture from the BCCI and it would benefit Indian football.

"It was also a wonderful job done by Mr. Patel. Under his able leadership we have to bring back the pristine glory of Indian football. Mr. Patel has assured us that there won't be any dearth of fund for the development of the game in the country. We would also provide right kind of management to take Indian football forward," he said.

Patel, who is the civil aviation minister, has also been successful in getting Rs.100 million as grant from the sports ministry to develop the team for the 2010 Asian Games.