Australians to give cricket a facelift

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can look forward to a facelift in the cricket scene.

Plans were revealed yesterday to make Malaysian cricketers a force to reckoned with, especially in Asia, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) and the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) at the Kinrara Cricket Academy in Puchong.

The MCA president, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, said that there would be more collaboration at different levels with Australian cricket teams in friendly matches and competitions, coaching clinics and exchange programmes to develop the sport.

The MCA president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar exchanging documents with WACA Chief Executive Officer and former Australian Test cricketer Graeme Wood as the Australian High Commissioner Penny Williams (centre) and National Sports Council Director-General Datuk Zolkples Embong look on.

“We do not want it to be just another deal signed. We want to see actions this time. Malaysia do not want to be only good organisers of cricket events but to play the game well too,” said Tunku Imran, who is also the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

“I am happy that the WACA will be assisting us to develop the sport. We can learn so much from them. “Our long-term goal is to have our team to be globally recognised. We hope that in few years, the performances of our senior and junior cricketers will improve in international tournaments.

“There will be multi-pronged approaches to strengthen our domestic foundation. And I am confident that this partnership with the WACA will address all these.”

Star