16-05-2025
Ghavri, Ankola impressed with young talent in Bihar
The first day of the second phase of "Search for Bowlers" trials, organized by
Bihar Cricket Association
(BCA), was successfully conducted at Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna on Friday under the watchful eyes of former cricketers Karsan
Ghavri
and Salil
Ankola
.
Both took part in the selection process to assess the skills of budding talents from across the state. Out of more than 400 participants, a total of 76 bowlers were shortlisted on the day, including 65 male and 11 female bowlers.
"These children have so much potential that they can progress significantly. It's not necessary that only 20 children have talent; the others also have good abilities and can advance. However, the game isn't the same as it used to be.
It involves discipline, hard-work, and playing lots of matches. Every player needs to be a performer," Ghavri said on the sidelines of scouting event.
"Many good players can be seen at the nets, but the true player is the one who performs well under pressure during a match. The initiative taken by BCA is a great step and it will be very beneficial in the future. The selected children will also ensure that you have fast bowlers and spinners in the pipeline, so you won't need to search elsewhere," added Ghavri, who has played 39 Tests.
Former India selector Ankola also highlighted the advancement of scope and opportunity these days.
"Talented bowlers need to work hard, and if they get a chance, it opens a path for them. It helps to understand how we grew up. In the late 1980s, we were like 18 or 19 years old, and there wasn't much available. We didn't know what to do. We used to chop wood and do things ourselves. We didn't realize how proper training was done," said Ankola.
The final selection of players will take place during the concluding trial scheduled on Saturday. The final phase, which was originally scheduled to be held on May 11 and 12, was postponed for the safety of players, officials, and all stakeholders in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan conflict following the Pahalgam terror attack.
