MCA colts to undergo karate training

MUMBAI: Ajinkya Rahane was a shy, skinny boy before he took to martial arts in his formative years. Now, he is among India’s best batsmen and fielders. Following

MUMBAI: Ajinkya Rahane was a shy, skinny boy before he took to martial arts in his formative years. Now, he is among India’s best batsmen and fielders. Following his example, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Wednesday decided to introduce its under-14 and under-16 cricketers to martial arts form of training as part of their pre-season programme.

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The decision was taken by the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC). While the under-14 cricketers will be introduced to pilates, the under-16 players will be imparted training in karate. There will be eight sessions overall which will be conducted at the indoor academy in Bandra Kurla Complex. “Pilates and karate will help the players improve their fitness and physical strength further. It will also boost their flexibility and body conditioning,” MCA’s joint honorary secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar told HT.

NOTICE TO POWAR

Meanwhile, the CIC has also decided to issue a notice to the under-16 coach Kiran Powar for allegedly misbehaving with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team coach Chandrakant Pandit, who is also the MCA academy head coach.

Pandit had shot a letter to the MCA about Powar’s alleged misconduct at the academy. It is learnt, Powar, elder brother of former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar, was not wearing the MCA academy dress jersey which Pandit did not appreciate. Powar said he was wearing a different colour MCA jersey. Pandit and Powar had an argument over the same in front of the under16 team which did not go down well with Powar.

“We will ask for an explanation regarding his behaviour. Also, he is yet to submit details about his plans for the season to the CIC,” said Khanvilkar.