The International Cricket Council Academy (ICCA) is breaking down the barriers, quite literally, with the state-of-the art facility opening its doors to young talent, who probably couldn't afford it because of the costs.

In what is perhaps a first, the ICC Academy is launching a scholarship programme where 12 pupils aged 12 to 18 will be fully-funded and trained on an annual basis.

As part of the Academy's initiative to unearth talented players in the UAE, they will hold an open trial at 2 pm, at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City, on Saturday.

From the trials, up to 12 talented players with "high-potential" will be selected by the Academy's coaching staff and they will be awarded a fully-funded annual scholarship into the ICC Academy Warriors Emerging Players Programme.

"For the first time this year, we are launching a scholarship programme. To participate in a venue like ours comes at price and we want to overcome that by offering fully-funded scholarships," ICC Academy Manager Will Kitchen said at the ICC Academy on Tuesday.

"So, on Saturday, we are going to be hosting trials to anybody who wants to come down, between the ages of 12 to 18. They will be able to secure a full-funded place on an annual basis at the Academy. That hopefully removes that barrier of cost.

" What we are looking for is people with that X factor, young players who show a real point of difference, whether it be their desire, whether we can see something in terms of physical attributes.

"What we want to open our doors to those people that potentially outstanding young players but might not be able to come to the Academy on the basis of cost. And that's all at our costs. We are funding those young players who will be given access to the place on an annual basis.

"There will be cross pollination with the UAE programmes and that takes us forward. We haven't really done that before and it is a investment from us but it is of real benefit to cricket here," he added.

The Academy also announced the new term for The Warriors, its leading player development programme, which will commence on the Sept. 11. The ICC Academy Warriors programme is for players from six years of age through to adults.

"I'm honoured to have this opportunity to coach with them and lead this programme," Qasim Ali, Head of Cricket Development at ICCA and the new head coach for the UAE U-16 team said.

Source: Khaleej Times