Introduction

The popularity of in India knows no barriers of age, gender, religion or profession. Of its many fanatical supporters, children occupy a place of pride. They revere and worship the men who bring glory to the country on the cricket world, and dream of following their footsteps. On the other hand, many of the older fans regard ‘cricket-watching’ and ‘cricket-talking’ as an important part of their everyday lives. Each and every Indian regards himself as an expert on the game, and no individual misses out on the slightest opportunity to display his ‘knowledge’ of the sport.

To educate the children in the basics of their favorite sport, to provide them with lots of interesting information pertaining to the game, and to test the seniors’ love for cricket, Cricketforindia.com would like to propose a one-day long, entertaining and fun-filled celebration of cricket, titled “THE CRICKETFORINDIA CLINIC”.

The Clinic

Cricket-fans, most of them young, and some old, will be guided by a panel of experts who have gained a huge amount of experience at the highest levels of the game, as players, captains, coaches and umpires.

The Clinic will be ‘flagged off’ by a leading current cricketer, who is no stranger to the participants, like , Vinod Kambli, Ajit Agarkar or (), Hrishikesh Kanitkar or Vinod Kambli (Pune), and or Sadagoppan Ramesh (Chennai).

This personality will formally ‘open’ the clinic and interact with the participants. The THE CRICKETFORINDIA CLINIC will be an integrated and comprehensive package wherein ALL the facets of this great sport will be taught and explained to the attendees in a lively and entertaining manner, replete with examples and illustrations. Two participants who are selected as the best by the panel of coaches and have sufficient potential will be recommended to a prominent cricket academy, or for specialized coaching.

The CRICKET CLINIC will not be restricted to any particular age-group.

Venue

The Clinic could be held in any major Indian city. It will be conducted at a venue at a central and convenient location. It could be conducted on different days starting first half of January 2005. For instance, the MIG Club at Bandra or the Andheri Sports Complex will be the location in Mumbai. The Poona Club or Deccan Gymkhana will stage the same in Pune.

Private and Confidential. The Guide - Introduction to Panelists

The participants will be guided by the following personalities, all of whom are members of Cricketforindia.com’s Expert Panel: Ashok Mankad – Former India Test cricketer / coach Polly Umrigar – Former India / Manager / Curator Yajurvindra Singh – Former India Test cricketer and World Record Holder. Piloo Reporter – Former international umpire Dr. Aijaz Ashai – Physio and Sports Fitness Consultant S.P. Bhatia – Renowned cricket coach Surekha Bhandare - Joint Secretary of Women's Cricket Association of India (WCI) The panelists will be assisted by Ritika Hiranandani (Director, Cricketforindia.com) and Devendra Prabhudesai (Editor, Cricketforindia.com).

In keeping with the nature of the website cricketforindia.com, the clinic will be an INTERACTIVE affair, in that the participants will be encouraged to ask questions that the panelists will reply. They will also be encouraged to discuss cricketing topics / issues with the panelists.

Ashok Mankad Polly Umrigar Yajurvindra Singh Piloo Reporter Dr. Aijaz Ashai S.P. Bhatia

The Clinic will also emphasize intangible, yet critical aspects of the game, like temperament, captaincy and team spirit.

Schedule

The Clinic will commence at around 8 am and go on till 6 pm, with an hour-long lunch interval in between.

I. INTRODUCTION

The clinic will begin with a formal introduction, wherein the coaches who will be instructing the participants will deliver their opening addresses.

(A) THE ABC OF CRICKET

The attendees will be taken through the basics of , bowling, fielding and wicketkeeping.

Batting - they will demonstrate aspects like the grip, stance and the various strokes that are played. Bowling – fast and slow (different deliveries) Fielding – the art of pick-up and throw. Wicketkeeping – the basics.

They will also be introduced to the basics of preparing a cricket pitch. Private and Confidential. (B) THE BASICS OF FITNESS

II. PRACTICALS – A CRICKET MATCH

The participants will then be divided into teams and play a limited-overs match, supervised by the panelists.

III. FEEDBACK AND INTERACTION

The participants will get the opportunity to interact with the experts on any cricketing topic. They will be able to pose queries to the experts, who will clarify their doubts.

IV. QUIZ

Every Indian, regardless of his / her age, gender, religion and economic background, fancies himself / herself as a cricket ‘pundit’. The knowledge of the participants will be tested through a lively quiz, which will be played in a knockout format.

V. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION AND SELECTION

The clinic will culminate with a prize distribution ceremony, wherein the winning team in the cricket match, and the winner of the quiz will receive special prizes.

The experts will also announce the names of two participants who have impressed them the most in the clinic. These participants will be earmarked for specialized coaching and recommended to a prominent cricket academy in the city in which they reside.

Private and Confidential. A Grand Celebration of Cricket

The CRICKETFORINDIA Cricket Clinic will be a spectacular and entertaining celebration of our favorite sport, where enthusiastic followers of this great game will get an unprecedented opportunity to personally interact with men who have ‘seen it all’ at the highest level of the sport. The clinic will make better cricketers, and more informed cricket-lovers, out of the participants.

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Private and Confidential.