Former India Test cricketer Lalchand Rajput highlighted the need to set-up zonal academies across Mumbai and Thane district rather than just having a state-of-the-art training facility at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground.


Cricket First group's Pravin Amre (left), Pratap Sarnaik, Dr Vijay Patil and Lalchand Rajput (right) at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday

"There are so many young cricketers who travel all the way from Palghar, Virar or Badlapur to Azad and Cross Maidans for training. They spend around two to three hours just traveling in the train with their heavy kit bag. With all the money in our sport now, why can't we have academies in Thane, Virar and all these remote places?