Chandigarh, July 3
A delegation from Lahore, Pakistan, comprising 20 members, including 15 children below the age group of 15 years from different schools, arrived in the city this evening.

The Lahore School-XI (U-16) team will play five friendly matches with DAV Cricket Academy, Sector 8. The matches will be played under the Indo-Pak Brotherhood Cup Cricket U-16 series from July 4 to 13.

Pakistan team coach and manager Qureshi Mohammad Shahzaad, who is accompanying the young team, for most of whom this is their first visit, said they were very excited.

“This is my second visit to the city and it is wonderful to come here again. The flavour of this city compelled us to come here again,” said Qureshi.

For Shah Rukh, the captain of the team, this is his second visit as well. He visited the city during the Friendship Series Cricket Tournament held at St John’s School, Sector 26, six months ago.

According to former cricketer and DAV Academy chief coach Yog Raj Singh, this is the celebration of true spirit of sportsmanship and brotherhood.

“The idea cropped up in my mind during one of my visits to Australia where I observed that they give tremendous attention to children between the age group of 12 to 16. So, this cricket series was planned with the efforts of school authorities. We usually organise school-level cricket between ourselves. With this arrangement, our children will assess their potential in comparison to our neighbouring country,” he added.

He said more such exchange programmes with cricket playing nations like South Africa, Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka were in the offing. “Such programmes are in the pipeline and we will invite schoolchildren of these countries to play cricket here and vice-versa.”

DAVSSS-8 principal Dr Vibha Ray said: “It is our little endeavour to promote cricket through the exchange programme wherein kids from both countries will get to know about each other’s culture. We have plans to organise a cultural programme during the series and sight-seeing tours of Chandigarh and nearby places for our guests.”

Lahore School team: Khan Hammad Zafar, Muhammad Ahmad Randhawa, Al Sharukh, Aqueel, Nazakat Kamran, Khan M Ali, Fayyad Ahmed, Waqas Ahmad Dar, Anwar Zafar Rashid, Shabir Zeeshan, Hashmi Syed Rohail Ali, Sardar Aquil, Anwar Mudassar, Harris Sikandar, Altaf Waqas.

Officials: Qureshi Muhammad Shahzad (coach), Gunrukh (teacher) and Qureshi Muhammad Basit (teacher).

Chandigarh, July 3
Two local hockey players--- Dharamvir Singh and Deepak--- belonging to the Chandigarh Hockey Academy, Sector 42, have been selected for a 24-day coaching camp to be held at SAI Centre, Bhopal.

The camp is going to be held from July 7 for the forthcoming (u-21) eight-nation hockey tournament to be held in Germany from August 6 to 12.

Dharamvir stole the show during the prestigious annual Bombay Hockey Gold Cup tournament in April where he bagged the best player of the tournament tag.

This was not for the first time that this rightout forward was honoured for his splendid performance. Last year, he was declared best full back in the 62nd National Hockey Championship held in Amritsar.

Deepak, too, made his presence felt at the national hockey tournament (u-17) 2005-06 held in Chandigarh when he scored 18 goals. The same year in Delhi during the Nehru Cup u-15 tournament, this left out star scored seven goals and led his team to second place.

Elated over their inclusion, the two say, “Our aim is to make the city proud and we are sure that if we could play up to our potential, we will come out with flying colours,” they said.

Dharamvir said, “Under the coaching of Jasbir Bajwa, I have learnt many things. My confidence level has risen and it has made me mentally tough.”

“Speed is my biggest asset and I concentrate on netting the ball first without giving much time to the opposite side to take position,” he said.

Their coach at the academy, Jasbir Singh Bajwa, said, “They both have been under my training in the academy since its inception in 2002. Both have been consistent performers for the Chandigarh academy and have the calibre of world class players.

Dharamvir plays on the right half and is a player with speed and great distribution sense with tremendous accuracy. He has a rare combination of speed and stamina and skill in making game strategy to execute the goal from any angle.

“I have advised them to be coordinated and mentally strong in any situation,” he said.

Mohali, July 3
A 10-day preparatory coaching camp for u-17 boys will begin at the PCA Cricket Stadium, here tomorrow. Although the camp has begun today, it will be officially inaugurated at 11.30 am tomorrow.

As many as 38 boys selected from inter-district matches will attend the camp, which will be conducted under the supervision of D.P. Azad, chairman of the Coaching Committee. Azad will be assisted by level-3 coach of the BCCI Munish Bali, former Ranji Trophy player Navdeep Singh and Mandeep Singh.

Tajeswar Dayal Singh will be the physical trainer during the camp.

Daljit Singh, chairman, Pitches and Grounds Committee, BCCI; Jasbir Singh, international umpire; Bhupinder Singh Sr., member of the Senior Selection Committee, BCCI and Arun Sharma, former Ranji Trophy player will also interact the boys during the camp.