Brit-Asian Chef plans state-of-the-art Cricket Academy in Bangladesh
BRIT-ASIAN chef Tommy Miah is hoping to cook up a cricketing masterpiece with plans to open a state-of-the-art cricket academy in Bangladesh.
The award-winning chef, who spent his childhood in Birmingham, is eager to help nurture the next generation of cricketing superstars in the country.
Like its fellow South Asian counterparts India and Pakistan, cricket is the number one sport in Bangladesh – and Tommy is eager to help the country become a cricketing force.
“I have noted this enthusiasm and the way that cricket has been expanding over the past few years,” Tommy told The Asian Today. “More personally, cricket is a game that is close to my heart and one of which has many memories tied in for me. That is the reason why I would like to give something back to the community and promote a positive image of Bangladesh.”
Tommy plans to fly out to Bangladesh this month to begin work on what will be called ‘Tommy Miah’s Cricket Academy’ in Maulvi Bazar, Sylhet.
Without a doubt the project will represent one of the most important sports and community ventures in Bangladesh.
The Academy will help develop cricket by providing training and education for youngsters eager to make their mark in the sport.
“The Academy will help in bringing out the best talent as youngsters will get better opportunities to showcase their abilities,” Tommy says.
“There is an abundance of raw talent available especially in untouched rural localities. Schools are the ideal breeding ground for young talent because the sport is so popular.”
And Tommy’s already drumming up support in the UK for the project which is expected to be completed in 2012.
Currently in talks with Bradford College, Tommy’s also received words of encouragement from Cricket Scotland and former Lancashire and India star Farokh Engineer.
“I’m very impressed with the cricket academy, it’s absolutely brilliant,” Farokh says.
“I do hope youngsters in Bangladesh realise how lucky they are in having someone like Tommy to help them, and who knows Bangladesh could soon have their own Rahul or Sachin or even better. Inshallah the name of Tommy Miah is on the lips of every Bangladeshi and the entire cricketing world.”
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland, was equally impressed with Tommy’s vision for the future of cricket in Bangladesh.
“Tommy’s proposal for a cricket academy in Sylhet is a hugely exciting opportunity for not just the local community in Bangladesh but for the whole of the cricketing world,” he says.
“A world class training facility based in Bangladesh will attract national and club teams from around the world to base themselves in Sylhet to enhance their skills and play fixtures against local sides. I am sure Tommy’s drive and enthusiasm for the project will make it a great success.”
