EIC: Unique programme for budding players

MUMBAI: While a lot of former cricketers lament about the declining standard of the game in Mumbai, few do anything concrete to revive it.
Dilip Vengsarkar, though, is an exception. The former India skipper has been actively involved with coaching at the grassroots level for a long time now.
On Tuesday evening, he launched 'Excellence in Cricket,' a programme which spells a God-sent opportunity for budding cricketers and may change the face of cricket coaching.
And it certainly has the potential to bring Mumbai cricket back on top again. The institution (with Venkat Rao as its Managing partner), is an initiative of veteran journalist Makarand Waingankar.
"As its brand ambassador, I fully support the initiatives of EIC," said Vengsarkar. EIC aims to arm young cricketers with not just the right coaching, but also the right education and career, so that they aren't dependent on cricket alone to make a living. There are four initiatives which the EIC will launch -the International Corporate Cricket League (ICCL), Centre of Excellence, Cricket Academy, and 'Heritage Tours,' which is perhaps the most novel concept of its kind.
"The motto of EIC is to compliment the efforts of the BCCI and the state associations. By addressing the key issues in Indian cricket, we want to create opportunities on and off the field," said Waingankar at the launch, which was attended by eminent former Mumbai cricketers like Ajit Wadekar (former India skipper) and Farokh Engineer.
The ICCL, which will be held in India, Sri Lanka, Oman and Dubai, will unearth talented cricketers who will then be trained with corporate skills so that they are absorbed by companies. Though cricket is the most popular sport in India, finding secure employment is always a stiff task for the cricketers these days.
'Centre of Excellence,' will be like a 'university of cricket.' The institute will have specially-designed courses for coaching, psychology, sports physiotherapy, curator, umpiring and other allied courses, along with on field activities.
The 'EIC Academy' will see youngsters learn the game from spin greats like Bishen Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna. Those in the academy will also get a chance to interact with top current cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Robin Uthappa.
"Mumbai needs advanced coaching. Post the IPL, a lot of cricket coaching academies have mushroomed. I don't know whether they give the right kind of inputs to the young cricketers," said Vengsarkar.
"This is where advanced coaching by the EIC Academy will help. Former cricketers like Bedi and Prasanna are very good coaches. I am sure they will impart good knowledge to young cricketers," felt the 116-Test veteran. The academies will be set up at Mumbai (Payyade Sports Club in Borivli) and Pune (PYC Gymkhana) around June.
Apart from Bedi and Prasanna, the other coaches at the academies will be Lalchand Rajput, Balwinder Sandhu, Sanjay Bangar, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Raghuram Bhatt, Shishir Hattangadi, Amol Muzumdar, Murali Karthik, Abey Kuruvilla, Paras Mhambrey, Zubin Bharucha, Dodda Ganesh, David Johnson, Salil Ankola and S Sridharan. An impressive line-up indeed!