Table of Contents
In the realm of cricket, the art of coaching is paramount, serving as a conduit for the refinement of not only the technical prowess of athletes but also their mental acuity and strategic comprehension of the game. In an exclusive discourse with Shoaib Kamal, the esteemed coach of the Cricket Association Lucknow, we embark on a captivating journey to unravel his visionary blueprint for the future of cricket in the region.
Endowed with a wealth of experience and a fervent passion for nurturing the burgeoning talents that grace the cricketing landscape, Kamal graciously shares his invaluable insights on his coaching philosophy, the multifaceted challenges faced by emerging cricketers, and his meticulously crafted plans to construct a robust and resilient framework for unparalleled success.
As the city of Lucknow continues to ascend as a prominent cricketing hub, Kamal’s innovative strategies and lofty aspirations have the potential to redefine the very essence of local cricket, rendering this conversation a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration for devoted fans and aspiring players alike.
Also READ: An Exclusive Interview with Netherlands captain Babette de Leede: Leadership, Legacy, T20 World Cup predictions and future of Women’s cricket
Excerpts:
Q. Shoaib Kamal, you are a well renowned coach in the Indian cricketing fraternity and have been an exceptional cricketer in the domestic circuit as well, please shed a light on your cricketing journey and how did it start?
Kamal: I have been born and brought up in the city of Allahabad (Prayagraj), and my vicinity was full of cricket fanatics or cricket buffs as well, and their involvement with the game also had a part to play with me falling in love with the game of cricket. And when I went ahead playing cricket growing and improving from gully cricket, I started practicing at the Madan Mohan Malviya cricket stadium which was famous for producing budding cricketing talent. After I approached and entered into the stadium as player, the rest is history.
Q. What inspired you to take up the role of a cricket coach?
Kamal: When I played cricket, of course dreams were big, I worked hard as well and I am filled with gratitude to almighty, my coaches and players who played with me. But an intervention or a realization did strike that cricket of a certain level was something which I guess was not my cup of tea.
Therefore, a decision I took for myself, that I should do something that intrigued me as a person and turned my passion of cricket into a profession.
Q. Why players are migrating from one state to another, a thing we have been seeing in the past with UP cricket?
Kamal: See, the thing here is firstly population of the state as UP’s population is highest in India, the other thing is the cricket grew a lot in the western UP and not just in Purvanchal, or Awadh region but the facilities and chances to make it in the team plays a huge impact. Waiting to play for their own state is a player’s own call and, if one decides on the basis of chances he might get to flourish by playing from another board, I don’t think we should have a problem with that.
Q. Please enlighten us with the selection process and trials we have at the local level, and how do we choose it from such a populous lot?
Kamal: Look, selection has always been among the most controversial things in the field of cricket, but the selectors in the cricketing fraternity are someone so experienced and professional about their work that they can even predict a player’s caliber and timeline just by looking at his stance and playing style.
And if the youngster is talented, they easily shortlist the player and fast-track the player’s cricketing growth.
Q. What are your views on Gautam Gambhir appointed as the new head coach of India?
Gautam Gambhir has been a great servant to the Indian team as a player and has a great record in IPL as a captain as well as a mentor for the two franchises Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super giants. KKR are the reigning champions of IPL 2024 too.
But the other aspect to look at his coaching stint, is also the loss to Sri Lanka in the ODI series after two decades is something that does put up questions on the performance. So it is really early to comment or commend on GG’s new job.
