Zaheer Abbas inaugurates cricket coaching academy at Sheikhupura

Lahore : Head of Cricket Academies Sports Board Punjab Zaheer Abbas inaugurated SBP’s 9th cricket coaching academy at Sheikhupura Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

It may be recalled here that 8 cricket academies (5 for boys and 3 for girls) have already been established in several cities of the province as per the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura Arqam Tariq, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mushtaq Tiwana, Assistant Commissioner Shabbir Butt, DSO Liaqat Wattoo, AC Muridke Zahra Dastgeer, top district officials and a large number of cricket enthusiasts were also present at Sheikhupura Cricket Stadium.

Talking to media at the inaugural ceremony, Zaheer, who is also known as ‘Asian Bradman’ said cricket is the most popular game among the youth and keeping this feature in notice a top class cricket academy has been launched in Sheikhupura. “The new academy is equipped with all necessary facilities. We are quite confident that the players picked at grass roots level and trained in SBP academies will become part of national cricket team in near future,” he predicted.

Zaheer Abbas said Secretary Sports Punjab Muhammad Aamir Jan has remarkable role in establishing and running of cricket academies in various districts of Punjab.

Zaheer Abbas, who is also former ICC President, said: “Two top cricket coaches have been appointed to train the young players at Sheikhupura academy. The chain of top standard cricket academies will be expanded in all major cities of the province”. He said: “Every youngster of the province has equal right to get top level training at SBP cricket academies that’s why we are planning to establish academies at far-flung areas of the province”.

Answering a query Zaheer Abbas said he will personally supervise the training activities at Sheikhupura academy. “Training youngsters as per modern requirements is our top priority. These academies will definitely prove to be a great source of international level training in Pakistan”.