No money, no problem — at Mohammad Wasim’s academy

Former cricketer teaches the gentleman’s game to those who can’t afford it

RAWALPINDI: A common misconception in Pakistan is that a lack of education is the only thing holding the underprivileged back from catching up with the rest of the society. This sees the generous spend a bulk of their donations on hunger, poverty and schools. What gets largely ignored are the sports and other extracurricular activities, which — as surprising as it may seem — also play a pivotal role in the social and economic growth of the downtrodden.

To right this wrong, former Test cricketer Mohammad Wasim has laid the foundation of a cricket academy in Rawalpindi that focuses on teaching the gentleman’s game to those who can’t afford to pay the fees that privately-ran academies charge.



“Right now about 60% of the players who cannot afford to pay the Rs1,000 a month in fees are getting free coaching classes,” Wasim told The Express Tribune. “The long-term plan is to eventually make this facility completely free for all the players as this initiative was not taken for commercial gains.”

The young players have come to the academy from far and wide. “Around 20-25 of our 150 students are from as far away as southern Punjab and Fata,” added Wasim. “They moved to Pindi specifically for this academy, which hints at the lack of facilities in their hometowns.”

Wasim was more a product of his own talent than training. He did not get formal coaching during his formative years, which may have been the reason he wasn’t able to play more than 25 ODIs and 18 Tests.

“I learned most of my cricket after I began representing Pakistan, and that will be the difference between me and my students,” said Wasim. “It is too early to say that this academy will give Pakistan cricket team some phenomenal players, but it will surely get young people interested in the game and also correct their fundamentals at a stage when they can be corrected.”



But recent examples have shown that even the blend of talent and coaching sometimes isn’t enough to carve out a career in international cricket with dignity and honour. Wasim realises that, and therefore, extends his mentoring of the young ones beyond the playing field too.

“The cricket board did try to teach players how to talk and carry themselves in public, but it was too late to learn on that level,” he explained. Hence, lectures on morality and English speaking are a regular fixture at the MohammadWasim Cricket Academy.

However, as is the case with most non-profit-making entities, Wasim’s initiative has its limitations. The academy currently has eight coaches, but will need more when it reaches its full capacity of 300, or goes ahead with its plan of inducting female students. The good thing though is that instead of wasting time seeking the government or PCB’s help, Wasim is exploring alternatives in the private sector, which just might work.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2016.

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