New Delhi: In a historic move, Delhi Capitals Cricket Academy has announced a landmark partnership with former England cricketer Sajid Mahmood to launch two cricket academies in the United Kingdom. The academies will be established at Farringtons School and William Perkin CofE High School under the banner of Delhi Capitals Saj Mahmood Cricket Academy.
This partnership marks the first of its kind for an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, as it joins forces with an international cricketer to expand its footprint and focus on nurturing young talent. The aim of the collaboration is to identify and develop emerging players, helping them hone their cricketing skills and reach their full potential.
Delhi Capitals CEO, Sunil Gupta, expressed his enthusiasm for the venture, stating, “We are extremely excited to expand the Delhi Capitals footprint to the UK with this partnership with Saj and his academy. At Delhi Capitals, it is our aim to give budding cricketers the best possible platform and opportunities to help realise their dream of playing professional cricket at the highest level. We truly look forward to this innings.”
Sajid Mahmood, the Owner and Head Coach of the academy, welcomed the collaboration, saying, “We are thankful to Delhi Capitals for joining hands with us, and we look forward to creating a big talent pool. With the support of ECB-certified coaching staff, we will ensure that our trainees receive top-notch training. This partnership is a ground-breaking move, marking the first ever IPL franchise launching two academies together. Delhi, welcome to London!”
Pratik Puri, Head of Cricket Academies at Delhi Capitals, highlighted the significance of this partnership, noting, “This is the only occasion when an ex-international cricketer has partnered with an IPL franchise, which speaks volumes about the grassroots development that our franchise is doing. Producing more than 50 state-level players and several IPL and Ranji players is a testament to the work we are doing. We aim to create a global talent pool that will benefit the franchise in the long run.”
The Delhi Capitals Saj Mahmood Cricket Academy will hold its first trial session on November 24, 2024, with the inaugural coaching session set for January 12, 2025.
This initiative signals Delhi Capitals’ continued commitment to the growth of cricket and player development on an international scale, strengthening the franchise’s position as a leading force in shaping the future of cricket worldwide.
