The aspiring professional cricketers have been selected from thousands of hopefuls to play in a youth “dream team” as part of South Australia’s deal to secure the India - Pakistan world cup match.
Dream team manager Neeraj Dhawan says they’re amongst the best young players his nation has to offer.
“We sent letters to the principal schools and cricket associations. We got about 3,000 applications coming in, we did our due diligence and because of the criteria we had about 500 selected from trials," Mr Dhawan said.
"So out of 500 you have 15 boys, so that’s how good they are.”
One of the side’s shining stars has risen above language challenges to set his sights on representing his country.
Gaurav Gaur is a highly awarded batsman who struggles a little when speaking, but that’s no impediment to his aspirations.
“I thought that I can reach the international level from here, so I can do well here. I have to do well for my family, me and dad, so I want to do very well here," Gaurav said.
The dream team was the personal initiative of South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill. His offer of 15 days of training and match play for 15 of India’s young finest, helped Adelaide become the venue for the India-Pakistan world cup match that is set to draw a billion viewers globally.
The Premier says his gesture is not just about beaming Adelaide into televisions across the subcontinent, but about giving a gift to next generation of Indians.
“There a fantastic story of one boy coming many thousands of miles to get into the try out and slept the night in the railway station, got put up by one of cameramen... and he’s one of the 15," Mr Weatherill said.
"It’s great to think kids like this who wouldn’t have had any hope of seeing an opportunity like this are now being able to enjoy it.”
Opportunities the Premier thinks may extend beyond the pitch.
In the past five years more migrants have come to South Australia from India than any other country, even China and the United Kingdom, underscoring the growing relationship not just in sport but also education, tourism and trade.
“I really do want to deepen the idea of multiculturalism and take it to its next phase. I want to go from acceptance, which multiculturalism is really based on, to this deeper notion of understanding” Mr Weatherill said.
“I hope that this will deepen our relationship and has benefits in other ways I hope that this can lead to a greater economic integration – we’re talking about a massive market – there’s so many shared opportunities between South Australia and India, and I hope this is good for both our peoples’ and our mutual benefit.”
Neeraj Darwan believes by hosting the dream team Adelaide may have won the heart of India‘s next cricketing idol in a sport that is regarded more like a religion.
“It is a tremendous opportunity for them, playing cricket for them each boy wants to become Sachin Tendulkar... Sachin is such a big name in cricket... He’s been successful so a lot of people look at him as an idol and they want to follow his spot.”
For batsman Mohsin Ali, winning a spot on the dream team really is a dream come true.
“We never expected to go see the Don Bradman museum and watching the Australia warm up match also – many great things are happening that you’d never think," he says.
Share
