The regional cricket academy began here at the National Stadiumimpressively under limited resources with some more sensible thinkingrequired

15-May-2001The regional cricket academy began here at the National Stadiumimpressively under limited resources with some more sensible thinkingrequired.The academy, which covers Sindh and Balochistan, saw 30 of the 31selected cricketers appearing on the opening day and securing valuabletips from former Test fast bowler Sikander Bakht.However, the academy will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday by OmerKureishi, the veteran columnist.The arrangements to run the academy are excellent with the boys beingprovided hygienic and quality high protein diet to strengthen theirbodies.The net facilities are good too with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)providing new and old balls along with other practice equipment’s.A busy training schedule has been chalked out by the coach who plansto run his classes from 7.00 in the morning to 5.30pm in the eveningwith lunch and other breaks included.While there will be regular coaching with three matches a weekplanned, Sikander has ensured that the gymnasium in the NationalStadium was in perfect condition for utilization. The hall has most ofthe equipment needed for weight training.Unfortunately, the gymnasium had been reduced to a store ever since itwas set up in 1993 during the presidentship of Mr Justice Nasim HasanShah the then Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP).However, the dark areas in the academy are the lodging facilities andthe PCB’s instructions to allow the local players leave after theconclusion of the day.With the academy in its very early days, it will surely require someindoor nets as the monsoon season is due here sometime next month. Itwould be a shame if rains interrupt this high profile and expensivetraining programme.Although the 10 outstation players have received air-conditioned roomswith all the required daily usage facilities, they have been lodged inthe complimentary boxes situated on the right side of the mainbuilding.It was observed that even three boys were put in a box. So much so,there were no proper bed and the boys had to settle for mattresseslaid on the floor.With 15 complimentary boxes available on one side of the pavilion, theleast the PCB could have done was to provide improved lodging for theteenagers who are attending the camp from cities like Quetta, Sukkur,Mirpurkhas, Sibi, Hyderabad and Larkana.But these issues are not as serious which couldn’t be tackled,provided the cricket managers want to. But at least, PCB managercricket operations Zakir Khan doesn’t look keen to turn PCB chairmanLt Gen Tauqir Zia dream turn reality as he unnecessarily uses hisauthority and creates hurdles in the affairs of the National Stadium.As regards other salient features of the regional academy, the PCBwill award every participant a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 along withbreakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments in between.After a month, the PCB will organize inter-academy matches to see theprogress of the boys and input of the coaches.The training process will conclude in August and the graduates willthen participate in the National Under-19 championships. The boys withextra-ordinary performance in the tournament, are likely to be pickedby the National Cricket Academy being run directly under the wings ofthe PCB.Academy attendees:Tabish Nawab, Ahmad Shafi, Ashraf Ali, Mohammad Farooq, KhurramIbraheem, Mohammad Fahim, Shoaib Akhtar, Irfanuddin, Mujtaba Amin,Amin-ur-Rehman, Adeel Malik, Sharjeel Ashraf, Daniyal Ehsan, HumairShafaat, Pir Zulfiqar, Atif Ali Zaidi, Shafiq Ahmad, Arris Kamal,Mohammad Saleem, Sibtain Raza, Fahad Iqbal (Karachi), Sabir Hussain,Rashid Yousuf, Arun Lal (Quetta), Mohsin Raza, Fahad Ali (Sukkur),syed Rehan (Mirpurkhas), Pitras Masih (Sibi), Ashraf Khan (Hyderabad),Akhlaq Ahmad and Abdul Sattar (Larkana).