DUBAI: Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni officially launched his first academy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday.
The academy, jointly launched by Dubai-based Pacific Sports Club and Aarka Sports Club, has been in operation for a couple of months at the Springdales School in Al Quoz.
The facility named the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy (MSDCA) will have some of the best coaches from India to train the wards, an official release states.
The academy has the following facilities:
Four Turf, three cement and three matted pitches
Spin and Swing bowling machine
Safety nets
Lights for night practice
In-house sports shop for quality cricket gear
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The academy will also conduct regular matches and will also field squads in tournaments, the release further states.
Speaking about his association with the academy, Dhoni said: “I am delighted to be a part of this venture and will contribute in every way possible to make it a success. It has been my dream to contribute to the game in every way possible. This is the first step in that direction. The enthusiasm of the trainees is what will drive this venture.”
On his part, Parvez Khan, chairman, PSC, who is also a philanthropist said: “We are excited to be associated with a legend like MS Dhoni. It is a honour for us that he chose Dubai as his first venue for the academy. He will also spend time at the academy whenever he is free from his commitments to track the progress of the trainees.”
Dhoni’s childhood friend and former member of the India Under-19 World Cup in 2000, Mihir Diwakar is also the other driving force behind the academy. Diwakar is the managing director of Aarka Sports who own the brand of MS Dhoni Cricket Academy.
“I have known Mahi since childhood. His passion and energy is infectious. He has spent considerable time in this project to ensure that the trainees get the best possible training. His involvement in the project has been enriching for all of us. I would also like to thank others, including Parvez Bhai for helping us make this a dream come true,” said Mihir Diwakar, Managing Director, Aarka Sports.
Bringing their support to various aspects of the academy are the four managing partners – Sudhir Tripathi, Mahmood Merchant, Vishal Sindhu and Sundaram Padmanabhan.
The roles of Merchant and Tripathi have been crucial in developing the impressive infrastructure of the academy from the ground up and selecting the coaches and support staff. They are also the public faces of the academy.
The managing partners of the academy are Mihir Diwakar, Vishal Sindhu, Sundaram Padmanabhan, Mahmood Merchant and Sudhir Tripathi.
