Dubai: The Kricket’s Spero academy, which aims to pave the way for UAE youngsters to play in the Indian team, has begun its activities at the Fair Grounds Oval at Dubai Men’s College in Academic City.
The academy was launched by T.C. Mathew, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and president of the Kerala Cricket Association, at a colorful function on Sunday evening. Also attending were Dubai Cricket Council secretary Ameen Farooq and Kerala state team coach P. Balachandran, who will be a consultant for the academy.
Kricket’s Spero is the first academy in the UAE to be recognised by an Indian state association.
Mathew told Gulf News: “Players practicing here can look forward to clinching a place in the state team. Though the Kerala Cricket Association constitution does not allow us to go out of our geographical jurisdiction, this academy is being run by our qualified coaches who will groom talented players emerging from here.”
C.T.K. Mashood, a former Kerala Ranji Trophy player and a prolific performer in UAE domestic cricket, is director of the academy. He said: “This facility will be open for training for age groups from six and above.” He added that the Academy will follow the same best methods as the National Cricket Academy in India.
Balachandran added: “Kerala Ranji Trophy captain Sony Cheruvathur will be the head coach of the academy. As I see that most of the players are from the sub-junior category, we can introduce them to the state’s under-14 category and then groom them.”
Prasanth Chandran, assistant coach at the MRF pace foundation in Chennai, will also be sharing his expertise.
A pool of senior coaches and fitness consultants from India and the rest of the world, including former Indian players Lalchand Rajput and Tinu Yohannan and Team India fitness trainer P.V. Sudarshan, will also provide specialised coaching to trainees.
Kricket’s Spero academy also has plans to spread its wings to spot talent in other GCC countries. CEO Reji Cherian said: “Our academy will open similar training facilities in countries like Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Our aim is to increase cricket exposure of youngsters in the GCC by arranging specialised training, organising GCC-wide inter-academy tournaments and through cricketing tours to various cricket-playing nations.”
Shamsudeen Bin Mohideen, Chairman of the Regency Group, and AK Musthafa, Special Personal Secretary to the Minister for Industries and Information Technology, also attended the launch and felicitated many former Kerala Ranji Trophy players living in the UAE.
