THREE national cricketers leave on 8 December 2007 and will spend three months in Perth to help upgrade their game.
Chetan Suryawanshi, Shoib Razzak and Pramodh Raja will play in the Western Australian Cricket Association League until early March before returning to play in the local league. Suryawanshi and Shoib will play Grade 2 cricket while Raja will play Grade 3.
“We are committed to raising the standard of the national team and one of the best ways is to send them off to Australia where the competition is stiff,’’ said Singapore Cricket Association Deputy President Mahmood Gaznavi, who is also the Chairman of the Development Committee.
“In the coming years, we hope not only to repeat this programme but also to extend it to more players,’’ added Gaznavi. “We also hope to tie up with some Australian schools and let our younger players participate in their competitions.”
The trio will start off in the lower grade and depending on their performance, may be promoted to the higher league. “This exposure will be good for us,’’ said Raja, 27. Added Shoib: “Playing better teams is always a way to improve.” And Suryawanshi, 22 said: “We know we have to do work hard because there is the important World Cup League Division 5 next May.”
Singapore are among twelve teams who will participate in the Division Five World Cup League in Jersey. The top two teams will advance to Division Four and success in each division can eventually lead to a place in the 2011 World Cup.
This is yet another occasion by the SCA to expose their players overseas. In June, the SCA sent seven cricketers for a 10-day specialised training programme in Chennai. |
