Team Blitz India
MUMBAI: The up-and-coming cricketers in Panvel and surrounding areas will start getting professional training for cricket at Dilip Vengsarkar Academy within a month or two.
To be managed jointly by Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Dilip Vengsarkar Foundation (DVF), the academy will be set up at the ground near Adai Circle in New Panvel. “We will be completing all the civil works and handing over the ground to DVF by the end of April 2024,” Executive Engineer of PMC, Sanjay Katekar said.
The facility will have nine pitches at the centre of the ground, which will be used alternatively. Besides, seven practice wickets around the ground will also be set up where the trainees will be imparted coaching by the experts,” The academy will train 100 students every year. The trainees to be selected would include 50 from PMC limits, 25 from Raigad and 25 from other parts of the state. They will be divided into groups of 20-22 players in different age categories such as Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18.
To be selected on merit, the players would be given proper training by five coaches free of cost. The children just need to carry their passion and confidence with them besides a promise of hard work and we will help them make good cricketers.
When asked about the time frame by which the academy will have floodlights, Katekar said, “We are positive about installing floodlights and have also invited designs from two-three vendors, but a final decision is yet to be taken.” The academy is being set up to nurture young talent and develop them into finest cricketers. It would be fully operational by the next cricketing season that starts in October.
