da brwin： India’s refusal to play Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship is amajor blow to cricket in the region, according to Asian CricketCouncil secretary Zakir Hussain Syed
Staff and Agencies22-Aug-2001* Huge losses expected after India pulls outIndia’s refusal to play Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship is amajor blow to cricket in the region, according to Asian CricketCouncil secretary Zakir Hussain Syed. He told AFP in Karachi onWednesday that the financial losses alone would damage the sport inAsia, where India was the main drawcard for international sponsors andtelevision coverage."India’s refusal to play Pakistan in the Asian championship is agreat setback for Asian cricket and the ACC will face a huge financialloss," Syed warned. "The ACC made all the plans and schedules withthe Board of Control for Cricket in India’s consent and they hadassured us of their participation, but this latest decision is verydisappointing."The decision is strange in the sense that India plays all othersports with Pakistan, is sending their squad for the South AsianFederation Games in Pakistan, but they have objections over cricket,"said Syed."The earnings from this championship were supposed to be invested indevelopment with a share for all the participating teams," Syed said."Since India is a huge market, and with the Indian team out, therewill be less earnings from title sponsorship and TV rights. The figureis confidential but the loss will be huge."* KSCA to launch cricket academyIn its quest to unearth cricketing talent at the junior level, theKarnataka State Cricket Association will launch a cricket academy inOctober, becoming the first state cricket body in the country to doso. KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel told reporters in Bangalore onTuesday that the academy would be based in KSCA which, he said, wouldlaunch a junior cricket development programme – “Catch Them Young andMake Them Great” in October.Initially, Patel said, the programme would be launched in 13 districtsand a few more would be added to the list next year. He said eachcentre would have 20 players, totalling 260 players, and coachingcamps would be held in district centres from October 15 to January 15.The Karnataka State Cricket Academy would invite 80 players toBangalore and each group consisting of 20 players would undergoadvance training for two weeks from November 15 to January 15, hesaid.Makarand Waigankar, who has successfully launched and implemented suchprojects in Mumbai for the last two decades, had prepared the projectwhich was approved by KSCA. Patel said former England fast bowler andrenowned coach Frank Tyson would conduct a two-week coaching coursefor 60 coaches from September 24 to October 6.