Dubai: The Indian indoor cricket team for the oncoming 10th edition of the World Indoor Cricket Federation (WICF) World Cup to be held in UAE from September 16 to 23 has commenced training in Bengaluru. The training started soon after the team for the World Cup, to be led by Girish Kyatanahalli Gopal, was announced.
The Indian team is being backed by two experts, wellversed in indoor cricket. Anis Sajan, who moulded Danube into one of the strongest indoor teams in the UAE, will mentor the team while team coach Taher Ali Khan is involved in the promotion of indoor cricket for over two years.
The week-long tournament, will be staged in partnership with Cricket Australia (CA) and Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), at the Insportz Club in Dubai. Interestingly, coach Khan worked at the Insportz Club for 11 years and hence is familiar with the venue.
Speaking to Gulf News, Sajan said: Being mentor of the Indian team is special. I have always believed that if you have passion when combined with knowledge and fuelled by resources you can become a force to reckon with. That is exactly what I will be sharing with the Indian squad."
Abul Latif Khan of Petromann Events, which is managing the team, and was involved in the selection of the team, said: "The Indian team is a strong squad with an average age of around 25. The team is balanced and can do wonders in the tournament. Captain Gopal along with Mohammad Khizer Ahmad have featured in Dubai’s Premier Indoor Cricket Leagues for a period of six months in 2016 and also know the conditions here. Five players — Dhanush Bhaskar, Yathish Channappa, Nihal Fakruddin Shilar, Vijay Hanumantharayappa, Daivik Rai have represented India at the last World Cup in New Zealand. A huge campaign through radio will commence in Dubai to promote the team. Cricket promoter Shyam Bhatia will inspire the team through an invite to the Bhatia cricket museum. Test star Sandeep Patil as brand ambassador will arrive in Dubai before their first match."
The other members of the squad are Dhanush Bhaskar (vice-captain), Mohammad Khizer Ahmad, Yathish Channappa, Aries Kather Aziz, Sandeep Mayanna, Nihal Fakruddin Shilar, Daivik Rai, Vijay Hanumantharayappa, Suraj Reddy Byrathi Naga Reddy, Santhosh Anand, Faiyaz Arai.
