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From a fairly successful career as an off-spinner in first class cricket, Kanwaljit Singh is all set to embark on a new role as director of the Hyderabad Cricket Academy for Excellence (HCAE). The 54-year-old Singh, who is from the old school of traditional cricket cricket, will try to give a new direction and give a strong thrust to the academy. His vision will be to provide quality cricketers for the various Hyderabad teams from the academy. “It is a huge and challenging role. Our endeavor will be that players spend quality time at the academy. There should be seriousness among the coaches and the cricketers. There would be no compromises. The players’ performances will be monitored. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has given us the responsibilities to produce good cricketers and we have to deliver the goods. It will be our earnest effort to provide a supply line of cricketers in each age category,” he said.
Having being the second highest wicket-taker after left-arm spinner SL Venkatapathy Raju with 326 wickets for Hyderabad, Kanwaljit said that the starting of an academy was good thing to happen as the best players will have a chance to train, rectify and become better cricketers. “All these years, the cricketers depended on various private academies and it sometimes did not help the cricketers’ cause. It will be different now. The coaches and selectors of various age groups would interact with us and we will provide them with inputs. We will be storing all the players’ performances in our data system. It will be easier for selectors to chose the right combination,” he pointed out.
Singh, who is the only bowler to take 50 or more wickets in a season in domestic cricket, admitted that there is severe shortage of quality spinners. “We have a tradition of producing quality spinners. Unfortunately, there are a few quality spinners. The spinners have to be patient and learn the art of purchasing a wicket. It is all about hard work at the nets. Along with Raju, we will streamline a few spinners. We have spotted a few and will work on them,” he added.
The willy off-spinner said the advent of Twenty20 cricket has changed dynamics of the game. “The young batsman seem to have forgotten the basics. We will teach them basics and at the same time encourage them to play positive cricket. So also the pace bowlers. We are also giving equal importance to fielding. It is important to give emphasis on fitness,” he said.
The Gymkhana ground has turned into a hub of activity. There are 18 wickets. Some new ones have been laid while the academy will be provided with all the modern amenities. “We have to be ready with all the datas. We have given clear instructions to prepare sporting wickets to the groundsmen so that the cricketers will be given an opportunity to play on all type of wickets. We are trying to bring more discipline into the administration and there will be accountability.
The amenities should be good,” said Singh, who promised to make the academy a result-oriented one. “It is our promise to nurture young talent and make them an accomplished cricketer.”
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