FAISALABAD – Magical spinner Saeed Ajmal announced Thursday that he was setting up a cricket academy to find new talent and produce bowlers like him to torment the world's best batsmen.
Addressing a press conference on the site of Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy here at UAF, Ajmal said: “Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy (SACA) at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) will help bring forward the domestic talent in the international arena as the academy will pave the way for talent hunting as well as providing the training to the young cricketers in line with the international standards.”
“The academy will be erected with a cost of 700 million rupees with state of the art and cutting edge facilities to the youngsters,” he added.
Commissioner Faisalabad Division Syed Tahir Hussain and UAF VC Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan (SI) also enlightened the media-men about various aspects of the academy.
UAF VC Dr Iqrar assured the gathering that his office with whole university community and thousands of students would be at forefront with Saeed Ajmal in materializing this noble cause of exploring more Saeed Ajmals and equipping the youth with cutting edge skills and tools. He said that UAF donated 10 acre of land in the heart of the city to culminate such an adoring and appreciable cause.
Ajmal vowed to spare no stone unturned in fund raising from eight bazaars of the city and would go house to house and knock every door of the city for the purpose. He underscored the need for generous support from the industry and business people as the city is known as hub of the industry in the country.
He also apprised the media that PCB chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf and colleague cricketers assured their full support in materializing the dream into action.
He said Prime Minister had also pledged to provide 100 million rupees in this regard. Ajmal thanked the UAF management and district government of Faisalabad for their unequivocal support in this regard.
Commissioner Faisalabad Syed Tahir Hussain assured his full support and asked the business and industry giants of the city to come forward and extend their tangible support in this regard.