Azharuddin bats for cricket academy in Riyadh

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin assured his full support for the first cricket academy to open in future in Riyadh to promote the game in the Kingdom and help produce good cricketers.
Azharuddin who captained the Indian cricket team for much of the 1990s and credited as one of India's most successful captains winning 90 one day internationals told a gathering of prominent Indians here on Friday night "if the people of Riyadh are committed to the game of
cricket I am there to help them with the technique to the best of my ability in producing good cricketers from the Kingdom."
He said that whenever 'I visit some places people ask me to help in running professional cricket academy but later they do not follow their aspirations.
"People in many countries asked me to help in running a professional academy to groom young talents but they never followed it to
pursue such dreams. If you have serious plan I am ready to help groom young cricketers who also can contribute to the motherland when required" said Azharuddin an accomplished cricketer known for his graceful and fluid batting style and superb fielding for which he was bestowed in 1986 with the Arjuna Award then the highest sportsman award in India.
Azharuddin who is also an ex-member of Indian parliament further assured that once it is decided to offer expertise 'I do make sure to help the academy run well and hopefully produce international cricketers.
When asked about being called as the best player with his wrist in the game he said "I started my career against England as a dream debut
with my natural game that included a few wristy strokes which captured the imagination of the partisan Eden Gardens crowd and next
day the sports journalist wrote that a genius has arrived who took his time to adjust with calm and once settled every now and then he played a stroke that brought the 90000-strong crowd to its feet for standing ovation. I just played my game which took me to score three back-to-back centuries."
Earlier prominent NRI businessman Nadeem Tarin urged the former Indian captain to help set up a cricket academy for students and young cricketers to benefit vastly from his rich experience.
The function was organized by Non-resident Indians and program conveners Akram Mohiuddin and Aftab Nizami felicitated Azharuddin who also felicitated Indian community leaders from various walks of life for community services.
A raffle draw was also conducted and the lucky winner received a cricket bat autographed by Azharuddin. Azharuddin's son Mohammed Asaduddin who plays in Ranji trophy cricket for north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh accompanied him and later left for the Prophet's mosques in Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah.