Discipline is one quality which is a must for any sportsman. This is particularly so for a budding youngster. In Indian sport, discipline has frequently been a casuality. Very few exhibit this important facet of sport, either on or off the field. Whenever there are letters or reports criticising Indian players, the common refrain is that they lack discipline.

Keeping this in mind, the move by the National Cricket Academy to expel Harbhajan Singh, Murali Karthik and Nikhil Haldipur on grounds of indiscipline was generally welcomed in the country. The general consensus was that lack of discipline should not be tolerated, especially by those who aspire to represent the country. Indeed, indisciplined players have been getting away with it in Indian cricket and the action of the NCA was thought to set a good example for the future.

Since the trio had been dismissed, there has been some talk that they might be taken back. But the door to the three players was effectively closed when Raj Singh Dungarpur, the NCA committee chairman, at a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday said ``discipline is very important and we at the NCA believe that an example has to be set.'' He added that at the NCA committee meeting on Saturday, they unanimously supported the NCA director Hanumant Singh's decision to expel the three players.

That point driven home, Raj Singh then expressed happiness over the progress made by the players at the NCA. ``They are fitter, physically and mentally.'' There is a lot of emphasis on physical fitness - the bane of Indian cricket - at the academy and in tests held there recently Md Kaif emerged as the fittest and fastest players.

Practice is one thing. Match practice is quite another. Very soon the trainees will get an opportunity to try out their newly acquired skills against some of the best teams in the country. A side representing the NCA will take part in the Coromandal Cement and Buchi Babu tournaments at Bangalore and Chennai next month.

From all accounts, the NCA is perhaps the best thing to happen to Indian cricket in recent years in terms of facilities and equipment. The latest addition to the NCA facilities are the indoor nets at the Chinnaswamy stadium. These are expected to be functional in August.

Speaking on the future programmes for the NCA, Raj Singh said the New Zealand Academy team will arrive in Bangalore on August 24. A schedule of two three day matches and a one day match has been drawn up. He said the NCA team would visit Australia in the near future. Next on the agenda is the setting up of the five zonal academies. These should be functional by April 21, 2001, according to Raj Singh who added that these would be situated at Mohali (North), Mumbai (West), Calcutta (East), Kanpur (Central) and Chennai (South). The zonal academies will be similar to the NCA with a director and three coaches.

© CricInfo