CAB launches 'Vision 2020' programme to groom youngsters

Cricket Association of Bengal today launched its ambitious 'Vision 2020' programme with an aim to make the state a supply line of national team players under the initial guidance of legendary bowlers Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralitharan.
"We want to help players in Bengal. I realise the need of having the expertise to take Bengal players ahead. These youngsters need special guidance and we can't have better persons than Waqar and Murali," former India captain Sourav Ganguly said of the duo who would spend at least 30 days this season to groom a pool of Bengal cricketers.
"We're trying to build a centre of excellence for Bengal cricket. It's just the beginning. We want to be like a Mumbai or Karnataka who keep producing players. Hopefully we'll be able to succeed," Ganguly, who had originally come up with this idea as chairman of the CAB coaching committee, added.

The nomenclature of 'Vision 2020', however, seemed to be misleading as Ganguly said they were not aiming at 2020 as six years would be a long time.
"It's just the name. We had to give a name and we thought this is just appropriate. If we take six years to produce players it will be too late. We have to do it quickly. With the expertise we have in Waqar and Murali, I'm sure Bengal cricket will produce players. The quicker, the better. It's a process. It does not finish. Intention is to help everyone," he said.
"The basic intention is try and produce players, take Bengal cricket and ultimately Indian cricket forward. It's not just about Bengal. Bengal has a huge place in Indian cricket. We want to make a consistent supply for next few years."

In the first phase of the camp that got underway at the JU second campus ground at Saltlake, the duo will shortlist some players from a pool of 200 bowlers who were picked from 97 clubs.
"We've gone on performance, the statistics of local league. The intention is to give everyone an opportunity. The first 2-3 days will be a little difficult," said Ganguly.