'Players have talent, but we fail' - Iran coach Asghar Ali Raeisi appeals to BCCI for assistance

Iran's Under-19 cricket coach Asghar Ali Raeisi has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for assistance for cricket's development in Iran. Raeisi has asked BCCI for assistance in building a cricket stadium in Chabahar and providing coaching to Iranian players.

Iran has struggled to build infrastructure for cricket due to US sanctions. Despite having excellent players, they have not been able to realise their full potential because of lack of suitable facilities and infrastructure. Raeisi believes that with the BCCI's support, Iranian cricketers may show their talent in the sport.

"Iranian players have the talent to play good cricket internationally. But we fail to train them due to a lack of infrastructure. I wanted India to help us build the stadium so Iranian players can showcase their skills on a global platform," Raeisi was quoted by the Print.

Raeisi also revealed that Iranian cricketers draw inspiration from renowned Indian players such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. To motivate and train the young cricketers, videos of these Indian stars are frequently shown to the Iranian players. Furthermore, he expressed his desire for Iranian players to participate in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL), the most celebrated T20 league in the world. 

BCCI, the richest cricket board, has a history of supporting cricket development in other nations. In the past, they have aided Afghanistan Cricket Board by providing venues and facilitating their entry into the IPL. Raeisi now hopes that the BCCI will extend similar assistance to Iran, enabling the country to build a world-class cricket stadium and establish robust training programs.

Apart from infrastructure, Raeisi also stressed the need for training in cricket umpiring. He urged the BCCI to help train Iranian umpires to ensure a comprehensive cricket ecosystem in the country. Iran's Chabahar Free Zone has land for a cricket stadium, but US sanctions have hindered funding.