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        The 'Men in Blue' might have flopped at the cricket World Cup and the sun might be beating down on the metropolis, but the craze for the game in Chennai doesn't die down. Youngsters, enjoying the summer holidays, can be seen here and there, having a hit. Coaching camps are also the order of the day. Several academies and clubs offer training in various sporting disciplines. In a reflection of its abounding popularity, cricket camps are the most sought after.

AT WORK: Veteran coach M K Iqbal during one of his training sessions.

AVM Childrens Cricket Foundation, headed by former Ranji Trophy cricketer M K Iqbal is running a summer camp, apart from the regular one (round the year) at Avichi school grounds in Virugambakkam, which has attracted scores of wannabe stars.         The Foundation has come a long way since its inception in the year 2000. 'There are over 200 trainees now,' Iqbal said with pride when News Today caught up with him. The summer camp got underway on 14 April in which 172 boys are taking part.         Stating that there was lot of talent available, he said if youngsters were trained properly they could become good cricketers. Iqbal has devised some ideologies while coaching his wards. He harps on leadership qualities, cricket basics, discipline, rules of the game, physical fitness and selflessness. Apart from imparting knowledge of the game to the boys, the veteran also lays emphasis on building character.         Also, as a coach, Iqbal deems it essential to look for natural talent in the boys.

        He also feels the youngsters need to show great commitment if they aim to make it big in the game.

        With a battery of coaches to assist him, the veteran goes about teaching youngsters the basics.

        The work put in by assistants — Mohd Mustafa, Sabari, Suryaprakash, Elamparthi — comes in for praise from Iqbal. 'When I am away coaching in Oman, they (the assistant coaches) they go about organising the training schedules and ensure that my presence is not missed,' he said.

        There are some promising boys at AVM-CCF, he said and reeled out a few names — Harikrishna, Saif, Sabari, Alagappan, Arvind Babu. They have it in them to be quality crickets, a proud coach pointed out.

        As for the running of the academy itself, Iqbal is grateful to AVM K Shanmugam, correspondent of AVM Rajeswari Matriculation School, for having given permission to run camp at the school ground.

        So far, so good it has been for Iqbal and AVM-CCF and the veteran is keen to continue serving cricket in the years to come.