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The kingdom’s young cricketers returned today from an invitational tournament in India in which they learned to hone their skills and conduct charity work at orphanages and a school for the blind.
Bahrain’s Youth Cricket Academy boys competed in the six-day Karnataka Creative Sports Academy International Invitational tournament in Bangalore, India, where they took on seven teams from different academies and villages.
Out of the 52-membered academy, based at the Gulf Air Club in Salmabad, head coach Rajesh Machado, along with batting and bowling coaches Jayaraj Bhandary and Noorul Sheikh, led a team of 16 to compete in the U12, U14, U16 and U19 competitions.
Coach Rajesh, who has been playing for 22 years in the Bahrain Cricket Association’s Senior League, believes the tour has been a great experience for the youngsters. He said: “My aim has always been to help these young boys to grow and develop into strong men and the tours and international tournaments play a role in that. It helps teach them independence and discipline.”
The travelling party included businessman David Axtell and Bahrain International circuit’s finance director Ramesh Subramanian who kept parents in touch with the tour action.
Mr Axtell said: “We also undertook some charitable work which was an important aspect of the tour. We live within a privileged society so the opportunity to give something back while we were there was important to us all, especially to the children.”
His son, George, 12, a student at St Christopher’s School, from Saar, spearheaded the charitable initiative to raise funds for the pupils at the school for the blind and the orphanage. He spoke up about the initiative during the ‘capping ceremony’ when all the boys received their caps and jerseys before they embarked on their adventure.
During the visit the Bahrain boys enjoyed a special game of cricket … blindfolded to ensure a level playing field with only the sound of a bell placed in a ball guiding them.
Teammate Amartya Sarkar, 15, also a pupil at St Christopher’s, said: “We aim to help the kids buy sporting equipment and whatever they need.”
Heading virtually straight from the airport after an overnight, two-stop flight from Bahrain, the team were clearly jaded and lost their opening fixture against Kernataka Global Cricket Academy. However, returning the next day to play against pre-tournament favourites, Bangalore Warriors Youth, bowler Anirudh ripped through the heart of the Bangalore batting being ably supported by Ayoosh and Akash, removing their opponents for 130 all out in 28 overs. Prateek and Jagan then provided a strong foundation with an opening century partnership before both were dismissed. This left George and Sunny, celebrating his birthday, to bring Bahrain home with 131-2 in 18 overs.
* To donate to the children in India, send pledges via texts to Coach Rajesh on 39760749.
