By Balbir Singh
A 50-member USA Global Cricket Academy (USAGCA) tour group, including more than 10 officials departed on Wednesday for an 18-day competition- training tour of Sri Lanka. The tour will be conducted from December 18, 2015 to January 4, 2016. Thirty Under-23 players (at least 14 years of age) were joined with Academy administrators and professional coaches, along with two USA national selectors. A few more professional coaches from India will join the team in Sri Lanka. The USA cricketers will play as many as 20 matches at different international venues in Sri Lanka, while participating in planned coaching sessions.
USAGCA joined a Great Cricket Steps initiative of Sri Lanka, with assurances to organize cricket tournaments in Sri Lanka and the USA. The 2015-16 USAGCA’s tour to Sri Lanka is an opportunity to expand cordial relations between the two nations’ cricket authorities and players.
Wishing good luck to the USA cricketers, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera in a communication to the USAGCA, said “Sri Lanka can help with the expertise and knowledge of Sri Lankan coaches and trainers, with elite players serving as sports ambassadors in the USA.”
USAGCA founder and President Ashok Patel said “This tour is primarily focused on learning and gaining some experience, while playing at the best venues and against highly competitive and talented local teams in Sri Lanka. Our main goal is to provide more playing and learning opportunities to our talented players to hone their skills. Our interest is very clear; to give our players many additional games besides their original tight schedule for this tour. Global Development Manager and Coach Jatin Patel is working with Rahul Sharma, CEO & Global Operations Manager, and many others in Sri Lanka to make this tour a successful one, and a lifetime memorable one for our academy players, coaches and families.”
“The team will have a golden opportunity and lifetime memorable tour, as they are visiting Sri Lanka at the same time India and Pakistan international matches are scheduled to be played. India’s Under-19 cricketers with Rahul Dravid as coach, will be visiting Sri Lanka at the same time,” said Jatin Patel.
USAGCA Players:
Sahaj Patel, Sukhdip Singh, Kishan Das, Jasdeep Singh, Guaranshu Sharma, Chetram Persaud, Sagar Patel, Rohan Gupta, Sam Kalpesh, Jay Pathak, Kushal Ganji, Karanjit Singh, Petamber Persuad, Rohit Nagendra, Chandandeep Singh, Brian Ajodhi, Aditya Patel, Pradeep Ravi, Daoud Mohamed, Sanjay Jonathan, Jwal Shelat, Sathyanarayana Venkatesan, Rishab Mohan, Atul Iyer, Santosh Reddy, Aamir Salim, Mohd Raafi Reza, Aman Patel, Shashank Vittaladevaram and Ajay Immadi.
USAGCA Officials:
Rahul Sharma, Director Global Operation/CEO, D.V Ravi Director -Strategy and Global Operation Manager Asia Pacific, John Wesley King, USA national selector, Barney Jones, USA national selection chairman, Linden Fraser USA team head coach, Apurva Desai, consultant Level – C coach NCA (BCCI) from India, Dashrath Sankhe USAGCA coach and Julian Even Moor, USAGCA coach from Guyana.
Ball-by-ball commentary and score card coverage for the entire tour will be provided by USAGCA official partner www.chauka.in. While other official partners usacricketers.com and Sportswire4u.blogspot.com will provide media coverage.
The USAGCA resumed its youth cricket International tours with the 2014-15 grand tour of India for Under-17 and Under-19 teams. Earlier this year USAGCA teams visited Guyana. USAGCA was the recipient of the 2003 ICC’s Best Junior Development Initiative Global Award, and is a registered 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization registered in the USA.
Over the years USAGCA with the vision “Building Great Cricket Professionals” has had a long and distinguished association with USA junior cricket team tours for Under-13 to Barbados in 2003, four Under-18 teams to Trinidad, Under-15 and Under-19 team tours to Wales, four Under-19 team tours to the Sir Garfield Sobers Tournament in Barbados, as well as an Under-18 team tour to India and Sri Lanka during 2006.
Story courtesy of Sportswire4u.blogspot.com