BCA introduces big time cricket to small villages

VADODARA: The success of the likes of fast bowlers and smalltown boys Zaheer Khan, Rakesh Patel, Munaf Patel and others has spurred the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) to take big time cricket to small villages. This is where you find the tough boys who are not weakened by sedate city life and started to camps at Chhapra village in Navsari and at Vyara.
"I believe that talent is not limited to the cities," says honorary secretary of BCA and India selector Kiran More."It is there in abundance in the villages of India and we hope to nurture it with these two 45-day camps which are already under progress. In the near future we will open similar camps at Padra and Dabhoi as well."
The BCA is employing its top coaches, all of whom have been certified by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to train the boys. Former Ranji Trophy players like Hamid Ali, Rashid Patel, Mukesh Narulla, Rakesh Swaroop and Dashrath Pardeshi have also been roped in for the training. More says that the response has been more than expected with more than 100 boys at Navsari and around 40 at Vyara.
"The problem of course is that they have no idea of what it means to play quality cricket," More adds. "They come to the ground in slippers and holding a tennis cricket bat, but the desire and the innate talent is there.
We will pick up the best of the lot and take them for further training."
The BCA is hoping that they can identify a handful of boys from both Vyara and Navsari who will one day play for Vadodara. They have divided the boys into three categories---under-15, under-17 and under-19. After basic training, they will play in inter-district tournaments. Those players who excel will then be brought to Vadodara for further training.
The BCA has also formed a special committee to develop cricket in rural areas. Simultaneously the BCA has intensified efforts to find a suitable place to build a cricket stadium. And besides talent hunt, the BCA will also dedicate time and money on developing cricket grounds and turf wickets.
"The youngsters in the rural areas are naturally strong, but need to develop fitness," says BCA coach Vikram Hazare who has just come back from Vyara. "We are also trying to look at certain delicate issues like adjustment problems that some of the boys have when they come from a small village and are made to play in cities like Vadodara. We want them to take a more academic approach, like keeping notes of their own progress and flaws."
More and others in the BCA are hoping to achieve what Brijesh Patel did for the Karnataka Cricket Association which has created a slew of international cricketers by strengthening their district network. The BCA is also hoping to upgrade playing facilities in the districts and organise more tournaments so that these players get a chance to exhibit their skills.