Cricket: Azhar to coach budding cricketers

Reji Cherian, CEO Kricket's Spero Academy and Mashood CTK during the press conference.

Learning the different aspects of the game and improving skill sets at a cricket academy sure does improve a budding cricketer, and so does playing in cricket tournaments. But coming face to face with a legend of the game would be a valuable lesson in itself.
And a select few at Kricket's Spero, The Centre of Excellence, in Dubai, will get that opportunity over the weekend. The academy, as part of its first anniversary celebrations, has invited former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin and the 53-year-old is set to provide a one-on-one coaching for selected trainees at the academy premises at Al Nasr Club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Azharuddin will also be the chief guest for the academy's first anniversary at Daraj Alyasmin, Metha Plaza Restaurant & Café, Oud Metha, on Friday evening.
The academy, which started off last year with 20 trainees, now has 150 in the age group of six to 19 years.
"We started on a small note with a small group. But now, we have grown from strength to strength," Reji Cherian, CEO of Kricket's Spero, and also an ICC Level 1 coach, said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Azharuddin visiting and coaching select trainees will be a big opportunity for these young cricketers," he added.
The academy, which boasts of some high level coaches who have played for Kerala and at the UAE level, will also be opening a new branch in Doha, Qatar.
"We have a bunch of students who are already playing at high standard within UAE and India. At the same time, there are kids with first experience of the game who clearly enjoying every minute. The coaches are former cricketers played at topmost level and the visit of former Indian cricket team captain Mohammed Azharuddin would definitely help our young trainees to achieve success," said CTK Mashood, Director of the academy.
Spero has also introduced a five-day in a week coaching programme, the first of its kind in the UAE by an academy. The head coach and other coaches at Kricket's Spero are qualified professionals as per the norms of Boar of Contro for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Along with video analysis of batting, bowling and fielding, Kricket's Spero provides opportunities to participate in competitive tournaments in Gulf region and India for its students.
james@khaleejtimes.com