July 31 Wednesday 2002
Abdul Qadir to hold under-10 event in Sept

LAHORE: The Abdul Qadir All-Pakistan Under-10 Cricket Tournament will be played here from September 15 at different grounds, to scout talent under a comprehensive plan.

This was stated by former Test cricketer Abdul Qadir at a news conference to highlight the salient features of the tournament on Tuesday. "I've conceived this idea from Australia and England, where cricket is organised at an early level and talent is spotted at an early stage and groomed in phases."

The tournament, he said, would span over four to six months depending on the strength of the players showing up for the programme. "Each player wishing to play will have to pay a fee which will enable us to meet the cost of the tournament which has been approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB have assured their fullest cooperation for the event which'll serve as a pipeline to produce would-be Test players."

The former leg-spinner said the programme did not end with the conclusion of the tournament and it would be further strengthened by inducting a selected band of players into 'The Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy,' which would start functioning later that year.

He said after the completion of the under-10 event, an under-12 tournament would be held and later under-14 and 15 tournaments would be organised. "Through this exercise we'll have a reservoir of players which could represent the country at the Under-15 World Cup and the under-19 level."

The legendary spinner said he himself would be selecting players for the under-10 tournament with the aid of a selection committee and the chosen players would be divided into nearly 40 teams, which'll be contesting at four local grounds.

"We are expecting a lot from this programme as it'll be the first activity for under-10 cricketers, who'll be playing at a smaller ground with specially-manufactured playing equipment," he said.

Abdul Qadir said he would also be submitting to the PCB a list of talented cricketers who could be picked by the PCB for grooming.