Pankaj Singh goes for the BIG HIT

The domestic stalwart, Pankaj Singh, these days is channelising his energy in laying foundation of an excellence centre that will be a springboard for the aspiring cricketers. Motivation to open a cricket academy, he says, came from the sense of responsibility that he must pay back to the state that gave him an opportunity to establish himself.

The medium-pacer shares with DNA how things transpired and what one can expect out of PS Cricket Excellence Centre that will be fully functional on January 18. Excerpts:

Q. When and how you landed upon the decision to open a cricket academy?

PS. During the last budget session, the focus was on opening an excellence centre on public-private partnership (PPP) model and sports council chairman JC Mohanty and sports minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar approached me for the same. It was an opportunity for me to invest my learning in developing a centre like this that will be first of its kind in the state. Cricket in Rajasthan needs a platform like this where youngsters can hone their skill in a progressive set-up.

Q. Given that the state government has a role to play, what kind of support exactly you will get from them?

PS. The government has given me this lush ground among other infrastructure facilities. They have also given me a freedom to incorporate my plans and now it is up to me how I make the best use of the facilities I have been handed over. Once things pick up pace, government will also be coming along in holding a talent search programme in the state.

Q. Fee and facility are the most important aspects. Is it going to be all about high price for superior facilities or you have charted out a plan to incorporate even those children who have talent but cannot afford?

PS. We will operate in a balanced way. Before designing our fee structure we did an intensive study of what other academies charge and what facilities they are giving. It is going to be all fair and transparent. In April, we will conduct a talent hunt where children who cannot afford  the fee of the academy but are immensely talented will be picked up. We will pick 15 such students. The focus is on women’s cricket as well. We will charge them 60 per cent less and if they will do well, sponsors will be brought in to take their game to another level.

Q. Things will gradually develop. So, what can one expect in the initial days once the academy opens officially?

PS. In the beginning we will have all the major facilities and on every 25 students we will have one coach so that effective monitoring can be done. Once or twice a year we will be inviting an international coach to hold camps. Our coaches will be the ones certified by BCCI or will be players with Ranji Trophy experience.  We will expand the academy by laying wickets made of different soil composition, we will get associated with other academies in the country and hold inter-academy tournaments to give more exposure to the children. And after that tie-ups with overseas academies will also follow. Training of coaches will also be done by making them participate in seminars.

Q. The way things have picked up, it feels retirement plans are on your mind. Is that so?

PS. No plans of retirement as of now. It was for the first time that the government came forward with the PPP plan to further develop cricket in the state. It is an honour to be associated with a project like this that can help change cricket's landscape here. Also, I can in some way give back to the state that has made me the cricketer I am today. This is a chance of a lifetime to work with the government for the cause of cricket.

WHO'S WHO AT INAUGURATION:

The PS Sports Cricket Excellence Centre will be inaugurated by cricketer Gautam Gambhir on January 18 at the SMS Stadium. ACS (Sports) JC Mohanty; Director General of Police OP Galhotra; ADG (Crime) Pankaj Kumar Singh; former chairman, senior selection committee, BCCI, Kishan Rungta; Dy Director Income Tax US Dhani; Joint Comm, Income Tax, Gaurav Dudeja; and Secretary, Rajasthan State Sports Council, Narayan Singh, will also grace the occasion.