Abu Dhabi: Zubin Ghyara, Farooque Zahoor, Anant Bahl and David Mathias became the first set of youngsters to be picked for a stint in the art of fast bowling at the MRF Pace Foundation in the south Indian city of Chennai.
The four lads topped the selection trials conducted by the Foundations chief coach T.A Sekar and Pakistan international Zakir Khan after a week long clinic in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Cricketlovers.com's Gopal Jasapara and Event Manager Roop K. Razdan organised the first-ever such trials-cum clinic to aid and unearth fast bowling talent. Cricket lover Shyam Bhatia sponsored the event which will now enable the four young lads to attend a 10-day camp at the Foundation.
Zubin Ghyara, just 13 and yet to play a competitive cricket match, has only had some cricketing experience at the Zayed Cricket Academy which started recently.
"I am very excited and in fact in three days I have picked up a lot," said the Abu Dhabi Indian School student.
Ideal build
Dubai's school student Farooque Zahoor is 17 and plays in the B division league for Al Futtaim. "My father used to run a club called Venus and I have received some tips and skills from him," said the Gulf Indian High School student.
The other two picked are in fact Bahrain-based with one of them having recently shifted to Bangalore. The tall and well-built David Mathias is only 15 but seems to have the ideal build for a paceman.
Having led Bahrain in the under-15 Asia Cup, Mathias is now in Standard 10 in Bishop Cottons School in Bangalore, and has a 6 for 40 haul against UAE as his best so far.
Anant Bahl, a 10 grade student of St Christopher's School, took five wickets for six runs against UAE representing Bahrain in the under-15 event.
"We have short listed eight, with the other four being Virender Gupta, Naef Sanai, Pankaj Prakash and Pratik Raddar.
The four can also join the camp at their own expenses," said Sekar a former Indian international.
"There are a lot of boys who have the potential to become good pacemen. Proper infrastructure and regular coaching is needed to hone their skills," said the lanky veteran from Tamil Nadu. Pakistan's Zakir Khan also highlighted the need for a platform for the youngsters to play regularly.
