Chats Cricket Academy needs your support to tour around the world

Some 19 cricketers and two coaches from Chats Cricket Academy will tour Dubai, Sri Lanka, and India.

As such, they appeal to the public for support.

Every five years, coach Saurab Chatterjee, the head of cricket at Alberton High School and part of the Chats Cricket Academy, puts together international tours for his players.

The selected young players from various schools will witness the highest standard of cricket played overseas, thus enhancing their skills.

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It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the players, who leave on December 7 and return before the start of the academic year in 2024.

Chatterjee, fondly known as ‘Chats’, said this was their 17th international tour since he first came to the country in 1992.

“I played with Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly and other big names as a bowler. I came as a pro player to play for Alberton Cricket Club and played for 17 years there.

“I had other offers but continued playing for the club until chosen for the Lions squad, and I was with them for a decade,” he explained.

He said he aimed to show the boys cricket played overseas and the culture of the sport.

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“This tour will allow the young players to learn more about the sport, and when they return, they will play much better.

“At least nine boys from Alberton High School will be part of the tour, some from Hoërskool Dinamika and St Benedict’s College, and one learner from Kempton Park. We have 19 players and 12 parents who will be touring,” Chatterjee said.

Each player has to pay at least R60 000 towards the trip, covering all expenses.

“We will play 24 matches on this tour and look forward to those games. We appeal to all companies in the community to kindly assist with any form of donations,” he said.

For more information and to donate money, email Chatterjee at saurab.chatterjee@gmail.com