Former Indian captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi inaugurated a cricket academy set up by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. SAI has launched this in association with Bishan Bedi Cricket Coaching Trust. This is the first such academy set up by SAI for cricket in India for talented youngsters and make them excel in the sport.

The 54-year-old former Indian captain and manager - Bishan Singh Bedi will be the coach of the academy which has short listed 93 trainess out of 381 applicants in the age group of 17-25. Haryana paceman Yograj Singh will assist Bedi while a Indian team trainer in the early 90's KB Dogra was named as the trainer.

The academy will train some promising players who represented the Indian side in the recent past like spinners Rahul Sanghvi and Murali Kartik. Apart from them some of the u-19 stars and 'players in waiting' like opening batsman Ravneet Ricky, allrounders RS Sodhi and Yuvraj Singh will also be benefitted.

SAI which has sports academies for other sports has developed some notable sportspersons in the past from various fields. They will provide coaching facilities and scientific support on a long term basis in association with corporate and private sector. A stipend of Rs.9000 per annum will be provided to each trainees as kit and other expenses.

SAI so far has academies for hockey, handball, volleyball and table tennis. They are planning to set up two more academies for badminton and table tennis.

© CricInfo