Pestle Weed Cricket Academy
DEHRADUN : The Pestle Weed Cricket Academy was officially inaugurated today at The Pestle Weed School campus, Mussoorie Diversion Road, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of grassroots cricket and sports excellence in Uttarakhand. The ceremony, hosted by Mr. Amit Lara, commenced at 12:00 PM and witnessed the presence of eminent personalities from the fields of cricket, administration, and education.
Distinguished Guests and Special Presence
The event was graced by Shri Mahim Verma, former Vice President of the BCCI and former Secretary of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU), who attended as the Chief Guest. Dr. Prem Kashyap, National Awardee and Chairman of The Pestle Weed School, attended as the Guest of Honour, reaffirming the institution’s long-standing commitment to holistic education and sports development.
Other distinguished attendees included Mr. Ajay Pandey, Vice President, Cricket Association of Uttarakhand; Mr. Raghuraj Singh, Deputy Director (Audit), Uttarakhand; Mr. Rakesh Bhatti, former Ranji Trophy player; Mr. Santosh Gairola; Mr. P. C. Verma; Mrs. Kiran Rautela Verma, Secretary, Cricket Association of Uttarakhand; Mr. Varun Gulati; Mrs. Rashi Kashyap, Director, The Pestle Weed School; and Major General Sammi Sabarwal, Former GOC Uttarakhand and Academic Director The Pestle Weed School.
Adding inspiration and aspiration to the occasion, The Pestle Weed School highlighted the journey of its distinguished alumnus, Mr. Yudhvir Singh Charak, a right-arm medium-fast bowler, who is currently making his mark in Indian professional cricket, having played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals. Through the inauguration of the Pestle Weed Cricket Academy, the school aspires to nurture and produce many more cricketers for India, following the path carved by Yudhvir Singh Charak – a proud Pestlewenian whose journey from the school cricket ground to the Indian cricket arena stands as a powerful example for young aspirants. His success reinforces the belief that with the right guidance, infrastructure, and discipline, students from Pestle Weed can rise to represent the nation at the highest levels of the sport.
Mission and Vision of the Academy
The Pestle Weed Cricket Academy aims to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure and professional training to young and aspiring cricketers. Speakers during the ceremony highlighted the academy’s core objectives:
Talent Identification: Creating a structured pathway for young players to progress from grassroots cricket to state and national levels.
Elite Infrastructure: Providing modern training equipment and facilities aligned with international standards.
Professional Coaching: Developing technical, physical, and mental skills under the guidance of experienced and qualified coaches.
Closing Remarks
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. P. C. Verma, Chief Patron of CAU and father of Amit Lara. He expressed strong confidence that the academy would emerge as a centre of excellence for cricket in the region and play a vital role in shaping future professional cricketers.
The launch of the Pestle Weed Cricket Academy comes at a time of notable growth for cricket in Uttarakhand, following recent achievements in both men’s and women’s regional leagues, and stands as a testament to The Pestle Weed School’s enduring commitment to nurturing talent beyond classrooms.
