* Huge losses expected after India pulls out

India's refusal to play Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship is a major blow to cricket in the region, according to Asian Cricket Council secretary Zakir Hussain Syed. He told AFP in Karachi on Wednesday that the financial losses alone would damage the sport in Asia, where India was the main drawcard for international sponsors and television coverage.

"India's refusal to play Pakistan in the Asian championship is a great setback for Asian cricket and the ACC will face a huge financial loss," Syed warned. "The ACC made all the plans and schedules with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's consent and they had assured us of their participation, but this latest decision is very disappointing.

"The decision is strange in the sense that India plays all other sports with Pakistan, is sending their squad for the South Asian Federation Games in Pakistan, but they have objections over cricket," said Syed.

"The earnings from this championship were supposed to be invested in development with a share for all the participating teams," Syed said. "Since India is a huge market, and with the Indian team out, there will be less earnings from title sponsorship and TV rights. The figure is confidential but the loss will be huge."

* KSCA to launch cricket academy

In its quest to unearth cricketing talent at the junior level, the Karnataka State Cricket Association will launch a cricket academy in October, becoming the first state cricket body in the country to do so. KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel told reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday that the academy would be based in KSCA which, he said, would launch a junior cricket development programme - "Catch Them Young and Make Them Great" in October.

Initially, Patel said, the programme would be launched in 13 districts and a few more would be added to the list next year. He said each centre would have 20 players, totalling 260 players, and coaching camps would be held in district centres from October 15 to January 15.

The Karnataka State Cricket Academy would invite 80 players to Bangalore and each group consisting of 20 players would undergo advance training for two weeks from November 15 to January 15, he said.

Makarand Waigankar, who has successfully launched and implemented such projects in Mumbai for the last two decades, had prepared the project which was approved by KSCA. Patel said former England fast bowler and renowned coach Frank Tyson would conduct a two-week coaching course for 60 coaches from September 24 to October 6.

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