NCA: All set for launch

The first batch of 24 players arrived for a training session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at Bangalore on Friday. This was announced by the academy director Hanumant Singh at a press conference. He added that the next batch of 20 players were expected to join sometime in mid-May. Hanumant said he had preliminary discussions with the academy's co-ordinator, Brijesh Patel, who is the KSCA secretary.

The academy coach Roger Binny along with the other coach Vasu Paranjpe, assisted by Rajesh Kamath, will fine tune the players especially those who have represented the country during the course of the training according to Hanumant. Replying to a question on the programme schedules, Hanumant said though plans have been made, a final decision would be taken after the arrival of former Australian wicket keeper Rodney Marsh on Saturday. Hanumant added, "we have made our plans and Marsh has his. All we have to do is tally both the plans before finalising the schedules".

Hanumant said the trainees would participate in two tournaments in September - the Coromandal Trophy in Bangalore and the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai - as also the Challenger Trophy, for which the BCCI is yet to announce the dates and venue.

The academy provides excellent hi-tech facilities with provision for outdoor activities and provision to continue practice indoors if the weather causes any problems. The NCA has earmarked Rs. three crores for the first phase.

The BCCI has appointed Marsh as the consultant for this project while Raj Singh Dungarpur who is the chairman of the academy is expected to arrive on Sunday. The academy will be inaugurated at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on May 1.