Former Indian captain and National Cricket Academy (NCA) Director Rahul Dravid has been given the is supervising a training programme of boys and girls from 16 Commonwealth countries. The campaign has been organised by the BCCI in conjunction with external affairs and sports ministries.

A total of 18 boys & 17 girls from Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Malaysia, Singapore, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji and Tanzania are participating in the programme.

“A customised training program has been made for each participant. The challenge has been to assess each of these Under 16 aged cricketers coming from varied backgrounds and countries, establishing their level of cricketing competence, designing appropriate programs and then delivering them,” a BCCI said in a release.

“Language and cultural barriers have been overcome, with the passion for cricket which all of the trainees have in ample measure.” Participants have also been provided with hotel accommodation, cricket kits, nutrition, strength and conditioning facilities and allowances to ensure their stay is comfortable and fruitful.

Last year at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will organise training for boys and girls under the age of 16 and provide them with an opportunity to train under some of the best cricketers in India at the NCA.

The one-month long camp organised from Oct 1-30 is being conducted at the NCA in Bengaluru, where some of the best coaches in the country are coaching the trainees under the supervision of Rahul Dravid, Head Cricket – NCA.