\'DDCA to open two academies for underprivileged kids\': Rajat Sharma

New Delhi: The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rajat Sharma Thursday announced the setting up of two cricket academies for under-privileged kids here, an endeavour the likes of Kapil Dev and Gautam Gambhir have agreed to support.

The DDCA president announced a plethora of welfare schemes for state team's present and former cricketers during the Annual Awards Function where Feroz Shah Kotla was renamed as Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.

"Following my friend late Arun Jaitley's vision, we have decided to have two cricket academies for under-privileged kids. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has allotted land in Pitampura and CWG Games village," the DDCA president said during the glittering ceremony attended by Virat Kohli and his team.

"We will open two academies in Delhi where players from economically weaker background will get free training. Gautam Gambhir, Kapil Dev, Ashish Nehra, Virender Sehwag have agreed to help in this endeavour," Sharma said.

"Former greats like Sehwag, Nehra and Gambhir have assured me that they will help shape career of these kids free of cost," he said.

Sharma also announced a medical insurance cover for all current first-class cricketers.

"We will have insurance cover for all our current players," he announced.

"Also like BCCI has a medical emergency fund for ex players from which they give Rs 5 lakh, we are also having a fund from which we will give Rs 5 Lakh to any ex player who faces medical emergency," he added.