ZCZC

BSP-14

CRICKET-ROYALS-ACADEMY

IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals mulls to set a cricket academy in
Bangladesh

DHAKA, March 4, 2021 (BSS)-Rajasthan Royals, a franchise of the Indian
Premier League (IPL) expressed their desire to set up a cricket academy in
Bangladesh.

Ranjit Barthakur, the chairman of the franchise, disclosed the news while
talking to the journalists at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Barthakur and his team however visited Bangladesh’s ‘Home of Cricket’ all
of a sudden today. While visiting and watching the facilities of the stadium,
he was accompanied by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizam Uddin
Chowdhury, senior manager of grounds and facilities Syed Abdul Baten, chief
curator of Mirpur Gamini de Silva and others.

“I have come here to see the facilities of the stadium and see how we can
create a link between Bangladesh districts and the northeastern states in
cricketing aspects and how we can exchange programs so that we can jointly
improve as far as the cricket of the two countries is concerned,” Barthakur
said.

“I am keen to set up an academy here (in Bangladesh) which will be named
Royal Academy. Although it has not been finalized yet, it is still under
consideration,” he added.

Rajasthan Royals recruited Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in their
team during the IPL auction last month with his base price INR 1 crore.

It is not yet confirmed whether Mustafizur can be a part of the team as
the date of IPL is likely to coincide with Bangladesh’s Test series in Sri
Lanka.

Barthakur said that the homeland will always get the priority rather than
playing in the IPL.

“We have roped in Mustafizur, hopefully he will play well for us but the
country should always come first and then IPL,” he said.

Abdul Baten, senior manager of the BCB Grounds Committee, who was with the
Royals delegation said that they were happy to see the facilities including
infrastructure in Mirpur.

“It was my responsibility to accompany them in visiting the ground. They
have seen everything– the academy ground and the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. They
are very happy to see the facilities of the ground. However, I do not know
whether they will set up any camp here, the senior board officials can say
about it,”

BSS/SMP/ARS/1844 hrs