Under 19 Training Camp & Practice Games

With the ACC Under 19 Challenge Cup 2009 around the corner, CAT conducted its preliminary training camp. The camp was held over a 2 weeks at the Bangkok Patana School facility, with players Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The camp consisted of daily fitness programs at the hotels gym and swimming pool, followed by net sessions. Due to bad weather, coaches, Ziaul Hoque and Robert Raina weren't able to fulfill their training program. However with a few sessions in the new indoor cricket facility better known as Bangkok Cricket Academy didn't put the team off course. Evenings generally ended with team talks, progress and strategies. As there is still a mixture of Indian/Pakistani boys and Thai ethnic boys, communications skills and team building activities were also exercised. Furthermore, Ishan Kalra, a 5 year CAT veteran who has been a member of the National Under 13s, 15s, and 17s squads would like to share his experience.

“This year's training camp was different to the ones that I have been a part of before. And I mean this in a positive way. Although we were affected by the ill-timely rains, and fell short of matches and net sessions during this camp, all of us players could feel that we had added something to our cricketing selves. Both our coaches, Zia-ul Hoque and Robert (Bobby) Raina, running Thailand National camps for the first time, did brilliantly well. During the ten day camp, our days were divided into two sessions: one in the morning and the other usually after lunch. We were able to have net sessions four times during the camp, but we did fitness and fielding every day. At night, after dinner, the team would gather in our meeting room and for an hour and a half we reviewed the day, discussed any issues that were bothering us, and gradually shifted our focus to the tournament in December. We also had theoretical sessions on the technicalities primarily behind batting and bowling. This was basically the outline of every day. However, I will now mention the aspect of this camp that made it so worthwhile and effective.

Probably the biggest facet of cricket that we learnt as a team was regarding the mental game. In the past, it might have been this 'mental game' that has left Thailand staggering just before the final hurdle; defeated on numerous occasions in the semi-finals. Both Bobby and Zia talked to us, made us talk and tell them about our ghosts of the pasts, and helped us forget them. Talking about the positive mind frame, not being intimidated by opponents, fighting hard and with a lot of spirit, were new things to me that I had previously only read or heard about. I certainly feel that our team is heading on the right path towards the tournament. After the camp, the Chiang-Mai, Khon-Kaen and Bangkok boys will resume training with their squad mates but will be able to do so only on weekends. This might break some momentum carried from the camp, but this year, with our minds set right, we are hoping to cause an upset or two.”

The camp was concluded with two matches against Perak Youth Cricket Club from Malaysia, one 40 over and one Twenty20 match. The boys carried over the positive mindset into the matches as Thailand comprehensively won both the matches. The Thailand side compromised of the Under 19 squad members and coaching staff bowled out the opposition for a total of 124 and chased down the total in 18 overs to take the first match. Thailand won the Twenty20 in similar fashion. Thailand batting first posted a respectable total of 148 in their allotted 20 over’s. P.Y.C.C put up a good fight however were unable to keep up with the required rate of nearly 7.5 runs an over. They managed to muster together 133 runs at the expense of 6 wickets. Some tight blowing by Thailand saw them comfortably take the match by 15 runs (Mahased: 4 overs, 17 runs, 1 wicket and Zia: 4 overs, 1 maiden, 21 runs, 2 wickets).

The boys will be attending one more training camp before heading off to Chiang Mai. This year something seemed different about the camp, the boys and the coaching staff both felt it. For a long time now Thailand has been touted as potential giant killers, will this be the tournament that Thailand finally lives up to its expectations, only time will tell. Till then you can rest assured the boys will be training hard.