A reputed cricket coach believes that international tournaments for youngsters under the age of 15 do not serve any purpose.
A reputed cricket coach believes that international tournaments for youngsters under the age of 15 do not serve any purpose.
Vasu Paranjpe, who has been nominated by the Asian Cricket Council to train Oman's budding cricketers for the Asia Cup under-15 tournament in the UAE, told Gulf News: "In my opinion these international tournaments are not good for kids as young as under 15.
"They (governing body) get sponsors so they hold tournaments," he said, adding that it was not doing the game any good.
"During the Asia Cup we may notice at least 25-30 boys with great potential, but not even five from these would hold the same promise when they reach the age of 19.
"Under 15 is too young an age for them to play at the international level. Let them swim gradually from ponds, to big pools to rivers and then throw them in the sea," he says, suggesting that by holding international tournaments for youngsters they are being thrown at the deep end too soon.
"I am not against these youngsters playing competitive cricket," stressed Paranjpe, who has coached at India's National Cricket Academy, the MRF Pace Foundation, and is currently at the Elf Vengsarkar Academy in Mumbai.
"Youngsters may be groomed from an early age by the respective national bodies and they can even play in their respective national competitions," he said refusing to believe that it is for fun.
"I don't buy that. No team or player can enjoy a 40 for five situation," he pointed out. "That only adds pressure to an individual."
Paranjpe, who has been here in Muscat for over two weeks, refused to predict how the team will fare.
"They look good but it would be worthless to comment without seeing the opposition," he said adding that he has tried to make the boys mentally tough.
He also said that since the players in Oman have no turf experience, it would be difficult to foresee how they would cope with their first outing on turf in the UAE.
Interestingly, Oman beat Thailand by 92 runs in their opening game in Sharjah yesterday.
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