KUCHING: Sarawak’s cricket development efforts have received a boost following positive word-of-mouth from visiting coaches, with Sudhir Nayak Karopady praising the state’s emerging talent and training environment.
The assessment took place today (April 18) during a specialised high-performance cricket coaching programme at the Borneo Cricket Ground, where batting coach Richard Clifton and strength and conditioning coach Jason Cox worked closely with local players to help raise the standard of the sport in the state.
Karopady, the founder of Rising Roos, told Sarawak Tribune when met that Sarawak’s emerging cricket landscape has already begun producing talent that stands out for its potential, despite the sport still being in its developmental phase locally.
“It’s amazing. We have just finished a programme in Bangalore in India, where cricket is already a religion. But here in Sarawak, although cricket is still upcoming, we can already see a few very good talents,” he said.
He noted that several bowlers in particular had shown strong promise, adding that with proper development and structured coaching, they could progress to higher levels of competition.
“We have seen a couple of good bowlers who can do very well at national or international levels. It’s a matter of polishing them and taking them to the next level,” he added.
Karopady thanked the Sarawak Cricket Association’s Vice-President, Victor Graman, and described a positive coaching environment in Sarawak, saying the players’ attitude and willingness to learn had impressed visiting experts.
“The kids here want to learn. They are associating closely with the coaches and want to learn more. That’s a very important attitude if you want to develop talent,” he said.
He added that the presence of local-born players actively participating in the sport, rather than relying heavily on expatriate or imported players, was a promising sign for long-term development.
“In many associate countries, we often see players from the subcontinent in the teams. But here, it’s amazing to see native Malaysians getting imbibed in this particular sport,” he said.
Karopady further praised the warm reception in Sarawak, noting that visiting coaches had felt “at home” during their stint, which he believes will help strengthen future collaborations.
“They felt at home and want to come back again. That’s the word-of-mouth that goes on in Melbourne after this too. If we can attract more coaches to this place and make it a better place (by bringing in expertise),” he added.
The initiative, organised by the Sarawak Cricket Association in collaboration with the Sarawak Sports Corporation, Rising Roos Australia and MAC Sports, runs from April 15 to 20.
