Cricket : ICC Boss Lays Out His Vision For Global Cricket Academy

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Haroon Lorgat, has spoken of his vision for the ICC Global Cricket Academy, saying it will help to ‘unite the international cricket community’.
The ICC Global Cricket Academy – based at Dubai Sports City – will be an important focal point for international excellence and education when it opens next year.

The academy will provide a unique environment for coaching, game education and training in outstanding facilities with some of the games best coaches.

“A goal of the ICC Global Cricket Academy should be to unite the international cricket community and share information from around the world,” said Lorgat. “By putting these principles into the academy we can raise the bar all the time.”

As well as providing international standard training facilities, the ICC Global Cricket Academy will also afford the opportunity to players, coaches, umpires, curators and administrators from across the ICC’s 104 Member Countries to benefit from programs and courses; creating a vibrant and integrated cricket community.

Situated within the academies campus at Dubai Sports City, the facility is in walking distance of some of the world’s most successful sporting institutions and coaching philosophies including the Manchester United Soccer School, and the rugby, swimming and WorldHockey academies.
“The package at Dubai Sports City is fantastic. Other sports can learn a lot from cricket and vise-versa. There is real value in an integrated sports city which will enhance the game,” added Lorgat.

The ICC Global Cricket Academy will open next year initially focusing on local game development at a grassroots level in addition to offering coaching programs and hosting local leagues. The ICC will also move into its new headquarters at Dubai Sports City in the early part of 2009.
“The ICC Global Cricket Academy will become the most important centre of excellence for aspiring and developing cricketers in the world,” said Khalid Al Zarooni, President, Dubai Sports City. “We are developing a vision for the future of sport with the best coaches, facilities and technology all in one place.”

The ICC Global Cricket Academy has two international standard ovals with pitches constructed from clay imported from Pakistan and Australia to replicate playing conditions around the world.

Players and coaches will also be able to take advantage of the advanced technology designed to help diagnose and rectify problems with batting and bowling styles. The ICC Global Cricket Academy’s indoor facility will house seven indoor practice nets, a fielding area, a video analysis area, a recovery room, a gymnasium and a viewing area.