A cricket academy with a difference

It seems that opening a cricket academy is the recent trend. Former Indian cricketer and member of the present selection committee Ashok Malhotra is opening one shortly. The formal announcement of the inauguration of the academy will be made on February 15 at a press conference in Calcutta.

Malhotra's academy will however, be different than those in Calcutta. He has already decided that other than the four practice wickets, he will have two match wickets in his academy. "We had learnt one thing from our coach DP Azad that there is no substitute for match practice. So I have already decided that the boys in my academy will play as many matches as possible."

Malhotra's academy will have the blessings of his best friend Kapil Dev. In fact Kapil has already promised that he will be spending some time during this year at Malhotra's academy. Other than Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Maninder Singh, Bishen Bedi and a host of other former Indian cricketers will also be acting as consultant coaches.

Speaking on his dream project, the Indian selector said, "I have already decided that there will be separate sections to develop spin and pace bowlers. At the moment, I am going to start the academy with 200 boys. They will have to pay Rs 500 per month. However, they will not have to provide balls as is the system everywhere in India."

Malhotra's academy will be a bit different from the other coaching camps in the city in the sense that it will have a permanent psychologist, an attending doctor and bowling machines. "I intend to provide the latest facilities to the students. I may also visit the Rodney Marsh Academy in Australia to find out how it is run. I will also try to bring some foreign cricketers to the camp for two weeks in a year so that the boys can benefit from the experience," said Malhotra.

The former Test batsman in fact has roped in a sponsor for the camp. A well known shoe company has already agreed to underwrite the entire expenditure of the camp during the next three years.