Sports Reporter
Executive chairman of Rajasthan Royals Ranjit Barthakur (L) and Assam Cricket Association secretary Devajit Saikia exchange signed MoUs in Guwahati on Tuesday. – UB Photos
GUWAHATI, Feb 16: Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals (RR), in partnership with the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), today announced the launch of the State Cricket Academy, Assam in Guwahati.
Powered by Rajasthan Royals, the academy is based at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara here and will cater to young cricketers (both men and women) across Assam and other Northeastern states. Rajasthan Royals, through this academy will provide a complete training and education programme including both on and off the pitch essentials, ensuring their all-round development. The academy will also see knowledge and training imparted by the RR coaching team to the coaches of the ACA to aid them in improving the overall value chain of coaching.
Speaking during the formal inauguration function at the ACA Stadium premises here today, Rajasthan Royals executive chairman Ranjit Barthakur said: “Development has always been the essence of the Royals’ cricketing operations and this partnership with the ACA is yet another step in the right direction. After having successfully launched and run youth programmes in Jaipur, setting up academies across the country was something that was always on the cards for us. I’m delighted to start our Northeast journey by setting up this academy in Guwahati. With our partnership with ACA, we aim to keep the whole of the Northeast in mind, wherein we aim to bring in around 1000 cricketers through the system, who will be capable of playing at the highest level with inputs from the RR team.”
ACA president Romen Dutta said that the prized partnership would go a long way in producing quality cricketers from Assam.
The ACA will be in charge of the day-to-day operations including the management of the resources. The ACA will also build the infrastructure for the academy which will include the ground and the other requisite facilities.
“The ACA-RR tie up is going to boost our skill development programme for budding as well as frontline cricketers of Assam as RR’s youth development and talent search programme is a success story. Hope boys of Assam and the entire Northeast will reap major benefits from this endeavour of ACA,” said ACA secretary Devajit Saikia.
Also present during the occasion were ACA vice president Porikshit Dutta, ACA treasurer Tridib Konwar, ACA joint secretary Kamakhya Saikia, State Cricket Academy, Assam technical director Ganesh Dutt Chugh, RR CEO Mike Fordham, RR vice president Rajiv Khanna, RR general manager Rohit R, local lad Riyan Parag – who has been a part of the franchise for the last two seasons, among others.
