Dubai: Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni launched his second cricket academy in Singapore after ensuring that the activities of his first academy, which he set up in Dubai at the Springdales School in Al Quoz two months back, is in full operation.
The legendary wicketkeeper batsman has plans to set up a string of academies, which will be known M, S, Dhoni Academy, in different parts of the world.
His signature academy in Singapore is located at St Patrick’s School, with over 300 students having already signed up for the academy. Addressing the gathering in Singapore, Dhoni said; “It is important to provide facilities to the youngsters and at the end of the day, no one should say that they did not get to do something because they did not have the facilities”
Dhoni will be working closely with Singapore women’s team captain G.K. Diviya and Singapore men’s team players Chetan Suryavanshi and Chaminda Ruwan with regard to his Singapore academy activities. The inauguration of the Singapore unit was attended his Dubai academy officials: Mahmood Merchant, Vishal Sindu and Sudhir Tripathi.
Speaking to Gulf News, Merchant said: “Dhoni is happy with the progress of his academy in Dubai and remarked that all facilities here were fully ready before the inauguration. In Singapore, right now, they have only four astro turf wickets but will be creating more facilities soon.”
Dhoni, who is part of the India squad for the One-Day International series against South Africa, took time off to launch the Singapore Academy. He is gearing up for the One-day series which will commence from February 1.
“Dhoni has plans to set up his academies in Hong Kong and also in South Africa. He revealed that he would like to stage inter-global matches between Dhoni academies in different parts of the world,” said Mahmood.
Parvez Khan, chairman of Pacific Sports Club, which set up the Dhoni’s initiative in Dubai had revealed that Pacific Sports Club has the rights to set up his academy in UK, South Africa and in Middle East Nations and the club is right now in talks with Saudi Arabia and Oman to launch his academies.
