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Junior programme to be revamped: Pandove

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: While thrilled at the Indian juniors winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, the BCCI’s Joint Secretary, Mohinder Pandove, feels that there’s further scope to improve and make the junior competitions in India, “quality-oriented”.

Talking to The Hindu from Chandigarh, Pandove, advised rest after a cataract operation, said that quality suffers on account of an over-crowded junior programme and because youngsters play in too many competitions.

“I have interacted with all the State associations and it’s been decided to recommend to the BCCI working committee to scrap the under-15 and under-17 tournaments and organise a national competition at the under-16 and under-19 level. By this the cricketers will be able to play competitions on good wickets. It’s also been decided to rename the Under-22 State teams as ‘A’ teams. Adequate exposure at international level are also in the pipeline for these teams,” said Pandove, who is in-charge of the BCCI’s junior programmes.

The BCCI’s main objective is for the players to come into play at the national level in the under-16 age group, leaving the activities below this level to the State associations.

“The BCCI has made it mandatory for the States to establish academies. They can utilise the academy to hone talent in the under-12 or 14, 15 category. The juniors should be solid in their fundamentals and technique before the entry level competition. They can use the academy right through the year to train the cricketers in different departments of the game,” he said.

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