What a great pleasure it was to visit the newly founded Lahore Cricket Academy housed within a beautiful country club, on the eve of the finals of Lahore Veterans Cricket Championship. Apart from the players and officials of Lahore Whites and Lahore Blues the two finalists, about 150 more guests drove all the way from Lahore to attend the gorgeous function.

Lahore Veterans-Final:
After an exciting game, Lahore Whites that included at least half a dozen former players of test/national level like Azhar Khan, Ashraf Ali, Saadat Ali, Ali Zia, Ali Ahmed and others, defeated the `Blues' by 9 runs to clinch the championship. The trophy was awarded by Mr Asadullah Khan Sherazi, GM of the sponsors in Pakistan in his capacity as the Chief Guest.

Wining captain receiving Trophy

The credit for arranging such a colorful function goes to Ashiq Qureshi, a devout lover of the game and a highly competent cricket organizer who is the heart and soul behind Lahore Veteran's cricket. A pleasant and popular figure in cricket circles, his PR has no bounds.

Rafi Nasim of CricInfo presenting Man of the Match Award

Imbued with the fragrance of sincerity and friendship, he invites people with such a combination of humility and courtesy that no one dare decline! The verbal invitations are supplemented by hand-delivery of cards followed by confirming acceptance on the telephone and if that's not enough, making a polite transport offer to carry the guests to the venue, in case some one is unable to manage on his own. This is perhaps the extreme in hospitality and I am sure, if there were more people like him in the world there would be no conflicts and controversies.

Lahore Whites, winners of Coca Cola Veterans Trophy

Despite the scorching summer heat the guests kept arriving after regular intervals. The presence of so many people at a holiday resort located in the wilderness near Muridke, about 25 miles north of Lahore was, however, a matter of real joy. The beautiful landscape adorned with modern facilities in such a desolate place almost neutralized the hostility of the unfavorable weather. A delicious Chinese lunch was served while the beverage company's hospitality continued from beginning to end. Their slogan of `Enjoy' was capitalized fully by the guests. After the prize distribution the guests were entertained with a sumptuous high tea that marked the end of a delightful function.

Before this event the LCC had organized a knockout Tournament sponsored by a Telecom company and 8 local teams participated. The Slazenger team won the trophy by defeating the Global Telecom team by 6 runs. Last winter a `young Asians' team from Nottingham had visited Pakistan and played cricket matches at the LCC.

Lahore Cricket Academy and Country Club:
Notwithstanding the drawback of a turn-around distance of 70 km from Lahore and enormous traffic jams en-route, the emergence of a verdant country club that houses the cricket academy is a refreshing addition to Lahore's sphere of outdoor entertainment. The brainchild of Mr Shujaat Ali, an ardent cricket lover who runs a tour and travel business in England, the surrounds and facilities can be counted as one of the most modern in Pakistan. His ambitious plans when fully implemented may even raise its status to top of the line.

The club house

Feeling that 100 acres of agricultural land near Muridke were lying unused while he was settled in England, he chalked out the plan of creating a sports complex with recreational facilities in a manner that would even attract foreign visitors apart from the elite of Lahore. Well, over 6 years of devotion and a huge investment is ready to bear fruit and bear witness to his dream.

Located in green rural surroundings, it's more like a dream-palace in the wilderness and for its size and the number of facilities; it excels all clubs in the country. Its many acres of landscaped gardens are studded with hundreds of ornamental trees and fruit orchards.

Reflecting the modernisms of the new millennium, the club has an office equipped with all that's needed, telecommunications, computers, email, the internet and even a website of its own. It offers international standard accommodation in the form of independent villas and a 35-bed hotel, for those who want to get away from noisy city life and spend some time amidst a calm, quiet and fascinating rural setting. Restaurants, sauna, swimming pools, walkways, horse-riding and lakes are all there to enjoy.

Apart from a unique blend of unrivaled health, fitness, sports, social and cultural facilities the real focus is on the game of cricket. A full size cricket ground with the requisite number of pitches and well-furnished dressing rooms are excellent for holding domestic cricket and other local matches. Soon, with the creation of a pavilion and spectator stands it may turn into a suitable venue for staging international matches.

Intikhab Alam at work

Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan Captain and Coach runs the Lahore Cricket Academy. He is responsible for controlling and organizing all types of cricket activity at the academy. It is especially designed for young cricketers eager to learn the game and achieve international fame. The aim is to unearth, develop and hone young talent into winning material. The academy desires to coach promising youngsters in the finest traditions of cricket and the highest spirit of sportsmanship.

The academy offers a full range of specialized cricket coaching, through modern coaching clinics using state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by qualified coaches. It envisages grooming youngsters further by arranging cricket matches against recognized teams. Though the academy basically caters for the age group of 9 – 19 years, there is no bar on those above this age.

Apart from 8 nets meant for coaching and practice for the trainees, bowling and fielding machines have been provided to optimize their standards of learning. To cope with different types of playing conditions, a mixture of tracks like a turning wicket, a quick wicket, a flat wicket etc have been prepared. A gymnasium equipped with the latest exercise machines is also available.

Coaching

In line with the most modern training institutions, the academy also caters for physiotherapy facilities to keep it's students fit at all times, the services of a nutritionist to chalk out balanced diet programs and a psychologist to help improve performance and productivity under pressure.

In addition to celebrity coaching clinics by Pakistani Test stars, social evenings with present and past test players and other cultural programs are organized.

Special program: Expatriate children coaching and trials
In a latest move towards promotion of cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board has opened the avenues for Pakistani expatriates to send their children to Pakistan for cricket coaching and training. Recognizing the fact that the Lahore Cricket Academy possesses all the modern facilities to handle the project, the PCB has authorized the Academy to organize the arrival and stay of youngsters coming to Pakistan followed by their coaching. Trials of those who catch the eye will be arranged for local teams and even for the National team. One can think of no better opportunity for Pakistani families living abroad who have young children keen to become the next Wasim Akrams or Saeed Anwars!

To add to the overall attraction and have families visit, there are recreation spots like a fishing lake, horse riding, cycling and jogging tracks, swimming pools, tennis courts, picnic spots, children's playing areas, farm houses, billiard rooms and restaurants. Future plans envisage the installation of floodlights at the cricket ground, the creation of a 9-hole golf course and other sports facilities.

As the famous saying goes `Rome was not built in a day'. So is it here, and shall take some more time to develop fully. Already equipped with the most modern facilities in the backdrop of a rural landscape, it's an excellent place for family visits apart from the cricket. While club membership at a large scale might take some time to grow, the cricket activity will not take long to flourish. Under the able guidance of Intikhab Alam, the academy is likely to remain the busiest institution with the training and coaching courses run one after the other. With the close cooperation of PCB, the cricket ground can also be permanently listed as venue for domestic cricket matches.

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