Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) has appointed former India wicketkeeper Sayed Saba Karim as its coach. He will help the company locate and groom cricket talents in Jharsuguda district.
Karim started his new job by supervising a talent scouting camp at Jharsuguda recently. The two-day camp, featuring teenagers from the district and other parts of the state, was inaugurated by local MLA and Government Chief Whip Kishore Mohanty. VAL Vice-president (HR) Sanjay Pattnaik and Jharsuguda Municipality Chairman Harish Thakker were present on the occasion. Talking to this paper, Karim, who earlier coached Orissa Ranji team, expressed happiness at his new assignment and disclosed that he had worked out both short and long term plans for the benefit of budding cricketers. ``When the district administration, Orissa Cricket Association and VAL have joined hands to hunt and hone cricket talents, the result is bound to be positive,`` he said. Appreciating the involvement of VAL in the promotion of cricket, Karim said the effort would provide a much needed platform to youngsters to make their mark at the State, National and international level. He, however, made it clear that in the absence of proper infrastructure facility, results should not be expected immedately. ``A camp or a clinic is not enough to produce results. Steps are required to develop good grounds and provide playing gears as well as exposure to the youngsters,`` explained Karim. He also stressed on providing employment to successful cricketers. Karim, however, looked satisfied with his two-day stint at Jharsuguda and promised to deliver a few good players in a couple of years.