KARACHI: Former Test fast bowler Jalaluddin will be working for cricket development with the Michigan Cricket Association, USA and will be leaving for his assignment on Saturday.

Jalaluddin, who holds the distinction of performing the first ever hat-trick in One Day International cricket history in 1982 against Australia, has been invited by Shahid Ahmed, chairman Michigan Cricket Association, to work for the game’s development there and has been appointed head coach of their team which will participate in the Unity Cup to be played in Chicago this month.

The former pacer is the highest qualified cricket coach in Pakistan with Level-II Accreditation from England and Australia. Besides, Jalal has also done his Level-III Accreditation from UK and earlier did his Level-IV Accreditation in Pakistan.

“It is a great honor for me that the Michigan Cricket Association has offered me this assignment while the US Government has also offered me permanent residence and I plan to develop cricket in USA to the best of my ability,” said Jalauddin while talking to media persons here.

“Cricket is gaining rapid popularity in America and I feel that they will soon be competing at a good level in the international arena.”

During his visit to USA, Jalal will also work for youth development and has a plan to establish cricket academy in Houston, Texas.

Having a vast experience of cricket deve­lop­ment in Pakistan, Jalal brought cricket academies concept in the country and established Customs Cricket Academy in 1999 besides the Vital Five Cricket Academy in 2009 and JCA in 2010.

Through these academies, under his coaching, many top class cricketer have been produced for the country including Fawad Alam, Yasir Shah, Shan Masood, Rameez Aziz, Saifullah Bangash, Muhamad Sami, Naveed Latif and many others.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2017