ABUJA – The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) on Saturday said it was set to establish a cricket academy, using the crop of new players who would be selected from the national cricket championships.
The NCF President, Emeka Onyeama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that establishing the academy would help to intensify training for players and boost the development of the game.
Twenty-six players were selected from the just-concluded national Under-15 Male Championships, the South West emerged champions.
On the female team, the president said that five regions were participating in the ongoing first edition of the National Under-17 Female Cricket Championships, taking place in Abuja.
He said that 26 female cricketers would be selected from the championship and admitted into the academy.
Onyeama said that 19 out of the 26 female players would be selected to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming age grade international competition.
In one of the semi-final matches, Team Southwest qualified for the finals after defeating North Central by 45 runs in seven wickets as against 44 runs all out.
The National U-17 Female Cricket Championships which kicked-off on June 12, is billed to close on Sunday. (NAN)