Date:10/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/10/stories/2008031056282200.htm

Sport - Cricket

MCA looking for a tie-up with Cricket-NSW

Special Correspondent

Tie-up to tap facilities at NCA and Cricket-NSW
Under-19 cricketer from India to be sent next season

Mumbai: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is exploring opportunities for a tie-up with Cricket New South Wales (Cricket-NSW) that will help in the development of its young cricketers.

“The cricket of excellence in Brisbane does not have an indoor school, but NSW has an academy which is excellent and has an indoor net facility. But technology-wise the MCA academy at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is superior to NSW’s. I have initiated dialogue with the Cricket NSW management, and the MCA will be writing to it shortly,” said Ratnakar Shetty, treasurer, MCA, who was in Sydney last week.

There is a bright possibility of the champion States of Australia and India working on a reciprocal tour programme for its promising cricketers before the start of the 2008-09 season.

The MCA has also decided to send an under-19 cricketer to the Cricket of Excellence, Brisbane, from the next season.

“The NCA sends three promising cricketers under the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship to Brisbane. The three players get a chance to train for three weeks and play a few matches for the academy team. The MCA will send a player under a scholarship to be named after Dilip Sardesai,” said Mr. Shetty.

Interest expressed

The BCCI officials (secretary Niranjan Shah and Mr. Shetty) have also expressed their interest to Cricket Australia to send a select Indian team for the Top End Series Emerging Players tournament in Australia in July.

“South Africa CEO Gerald Majola is impressed by the tournament and told me that the standard of South African juniors has improved a lot after taking part in the Top End series. The BCCI has to take a decision on this,” said Mr. Shetty.