GUWAHATI: As part of their initiative to promote cricket at the grassroots level across the country, IPL franchise Delhi Capitals have opened their first DC Cricket Academy in the northeast here in Guwahati. On Friday morning, the franchise announced their collaboration with the city-based ICON Sports Academy in this regard.
DC’s director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coaches Pravin Amre, Shane Watson and head of DC cricket academies Jagrit Anand were present at the event along with ICON Group of Institutes secretary Debashish Bora, Assam Cricket Association (ACA) joint secretary Rajinder Singh, vice-president Rajdeep Ojha, Meghalaya Cricket Association president Naba Bhattarjee and Syed Zuffri Zakaria, head coach of DC ICON Academies.
The Academy is the first cricket facility in the city with an indoor training area, which also provides accommodation facilities and multiple turfs for the budding cricketers. The youngsters in the northeast region will have a great opportunity to grow as professional players with the support of BCCI Level 2 coaches at the academy.
“The Delhi Capitals Cricket Academy in Guwahati will give many young boys and girls an opportunity to train in good gear and pitches. I am certain that we will see cricketers from the northeastern region play for India with the support of Delhi Capitals,” Ganguly said about the association.
Speaking about the facilities in the training centre, head coach Zakaria added, “We have an ultra-modern indoor cricket facility at one of the ICON School premises in Guwahati. The training facility consists of four outdoor Astroturf wickets along with a small ground for students to practice fielding.”
