Kapil inaugurates 25 practice pitches at Poona Club

Pune, May 27 (UNI) Former India captain Kapil Dev today inaugurated 25 practice pitches at the Poona Club cricket ground here.

Speaking on the occasion, Kapil said Poona Club has a rich legacy and heritage and has witnessed some of the great West Indians -- Sir Frank Worrel, Eveton Weeks and Walcott -- playing against the Indians led by Vijay Hazare in 1949.

The addition of the 25 practice pitches will help the large number of corporates to make use of the facilities, he noted.

Poona Club president Anil Sheolekar informed that a cricket academy will be set up here soon. Negotiations in this regard are on, he said.

Sports committee chairman of the Poona Club, Mr Cyrus Patel, informed that out of the 25 pitches, two are cement wickets, two have synthetic surface, while the rest have natural grass.

Meanwhile, Kapil, Mr Sheolekar and Mr Patel presented prizes and awards to the winning teams in the Kumar Properties-sponsored 2nd Poona Club rolling trophy Boys under-15 league-cum-knock-out cricket tournament.

The winners, Poona District Cricket Association (PDCA) team, received Rs 35,000 in prize money plus a trophy, while the runners-up Nashik District received Rs,15,000 and a trophy. A total of 20 teams from Pune and outside had taken part in the tournament.

UNI