Under-14 and Under-16 cricket is a must to produce future stars: Iqbal Sikander

By K.R. Nayar

International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Development Officer and former Pakistan cricketer Iqbal Sikander shares his views on grooming young cricketers.  While watching the GCC Cup for Under-14 and Under-16 cricketers organised by G Force Cricket Academy, he said that the nursery of cricket lies in the schools.

Iqbal Sikander 

Former Pakistan allrounder Iqbal Sikander, who is currently the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Development officer, believes that Under-14 and Under-16 cricket is the base for producing future cricketers.

Speaking to krbuzz.blogspot.com  during the GCC Cup tournament for Under-14 and Under-16 budding cricketers organised by G Force Cricket Academy at the Vision Cricket Ground in Sharjah,  Sikander said: “I believe that Under 14 and Under 16 tournaments are the basics of future cricketers. So, this (tournament) for me as the ICC Development Officer, is the most important age group and most important area from where we can develop and produce many good cricketers.  This is the right age to start grooming.”

Although Sikander, who hails from a family of lawyers, was the only one to take up cricket as a career from a  very young age, he was well backed by his parents. He went on to be a part of the Pakistan team that lifted the 1992 World Cup. 

“I have always said that the nursery of cricket is from schools. These kids are in school right now and they are the future of cricket,” said Sikander, who was once the Asian Cricket Council Development officer for six upcoming cricketing nations such as Kuwait, Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, as well the present Test-playing nation Afghanistan. Sikander had also been to Bahrain to spread the game.

In the GCC Cup, two teams from Bahrain- the HPCA Cricket Academy and Noor Sports Cricket Academy - had competed in the event in both the Under-14 and Under-16 categories.
Hailing Bahrain’s decision to come and play in the UAE, Sikander said:  “For Bahrain to come and play cricket here is a dream come true. They do not have any grassy grounds there nor do they have turf wickets. So it was extremely important for them to come, and these cricketers will remember this experience for the rest of their life. This will be the first time they would have played on a grassy ground.”

Sikander was also very impressed with the Vision Cricket Ground facilities and remarked: “I am very happy to see a facility like this here. It is not just one ground but six grounds with floodlights and all other amenities.  That is absolutely fantastic. It’s really good for cricket.  Since the facilities here are so good, we, at the ICC, can look into the possibility of organising tournaments, both at the junior and senior level.”

Sikander had scored 4204 runs in his first class cricket career and had also bagged 658 wickets with his leg break googly deliveries. He has also taken on the role of a Match Referee in many international matches.