Saeed Ajmal,
the Pakistan offspinner, has started his own elite academy scheme at
the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad. The R70 million ($720,000
approx) multi-facility academy will be spread over 18 acres of land and
will be completed in two years' time, in three phases of construction.
Ajmal has provided R10 million ($102,000 approx) of his own money to the
academy, with the government and major industry promising to further
contribute to its funding. The lucrative project will include an indoor
and outdoor practice school, lodging facility, swimming pool and a
floodlit ground.
Ajmal, speaking at the launch of the first phase, said he wanted to help
develop the next generation of cricketers, in particular spinners, for
Pakistan. "I have experienced tough days early in my career but with
this facility nobody will have to go through a difficult time," Ajmal
said. "I want to groom the enormous talent in the country without fee. I
don't want the players to suffer the ordeal I did in coming to this
stage."
Ajmal, 35, made a relatively late entry into international cricket, at
the age of 30. He started in Tests when he was almost 32 and so far has
played 23 Test matches, taking 122 wickets at 27.09. He also has 117
one-day wickets and is the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20
internationals, with 71. Ajmal said he wanted to give "youngsters an
opportunity to follow in my footsteps".
Cricket may be the most popular game in Pakistan but there is a lack of
modern facilities at the grassroots level. The PCB owns the national
academy and regional academies around the country but they are
sanctioned only for the use of national and domestic cricketers. Club
cricket is the main source of new cricketers but they rely on meagre
facilities.
"The idea is to find the talent and give them all the necessary to groom
[their skills]," Ajmal said. "They will be paid for their livelihood
and we will help develop those who have been marginalised and unable to
thrive for many reasons."
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