The Gambia to open cricket academy

The Gambia Cricket Association (GCA) plans to open a National Cricket Academy at the newly-renovated July 22 Square Grounds in Banjul, the capital city.

Johnny Gomez, a GCA development officer, said in The Daily Observer, a Gambian newspaper, that a full-time coach will be stationed at the academy, which will run from 8.00am to 2.00pm daily.

"We have a standard bowling machine donated by the International Cricket Council, and other necessary equipment to start an academy," Gomez continued. "The ground has the capacity to accommodate three pitches at a time."

He added that the goal of the academy was to build an interest in the game among Gambian children, and hopefully create professional cricketers. "We want to penetrate the grass roots for the development of the game, back to the level it was decades ago."

The Gambia was elected to affiliate status by the ICC in 2002.