Express Academy opens in Ahmedabad

The programme includes sharpening batting and bowling skills, an overall fitness regime, workshops by former and current Test stars on mental strength, psychology sessions, tournament play, exchange programes with other academies and international tours.

The course has a fiscally flexible admission policy. As Hattangadi puts it: “It ranges from Rs 50 a month to Rs 10,000 a year. And if a child is truly gifted but economically weak, he can get top-level training without paying anything.”

Hattangadi will also be helped by an array of local coaches includingformer Ranji Trophy captain Mukund Parmar, whose local flavour is part of the main course which will have a rich dose of stars every month.

The kids at the academy had the first star sighting when Binny visited the academy. The all-rounder, who runs an academy at Bangalore and is also the coach of the India A, national under-19 teams, cut the red ribbon. Stressing the importance of academies he said, “Karnataka has four academies and look the number of players who have made it to the National squad.”

Ajay Srinivas of Prudential ICICI said, “The name Prudential has always brought happy memories to cricket fans and this is another effort to support the game at the grassroots.”

Kanak Ghose, general manager The Indian Express, too stressed on the reason for the company’s association with the academy. “The Indian Express has a tradition of taking up causes and supporting them. Our association with the academy is a way of doing something for cricket in the state,” he said.