Lalitpur, December 12:

A group of five cricketers — Raj Shrestha, Gyanendra Malla, Prasanna Shakya, Rabi Das Shrestha and Pawan Siddhi Manandhar — established a cricket academy in Sanepa.

The Kathmandu Cricket Training Academy (KCTA) is the fourth one in the valley. Everest Cricket Academy has been closed, while Baluwatar Cricket Academy and Shangri-La Cricket Academy are in operation at present.

Former national team cricketer Jagat Tamata and current national players Gyanedra Malla and Raj Shrestha are the coaches in the academy. Inaugurating the academy, President of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Binay Raj Pandey said the development of cricket was impossible without the help of private sector.

CAN Vice-President and owner of the Baluwatar Cricket Academy Upendra Prasad Bhattarai said: “The academy not only helps in the development of cricket, it also helps in producing disciplined players.”

Coach Tamata said that the academy’s first priority would be to teach basics of the sport. “Commercial aspect is secondary,” added Tamata.