Talent Champions Bolster Community Work

To strengthen Leicestershire County Cricket Club’s links within the diverse communities of Leicester, the club has recruited two Community Talent Champions [CTCs], Pratap Odedra and Badhal Khunti.

Working across the Community and Academy teams at the club, the two CTCs will be responsible for identifying and bringing talented players from inner city cricket activities to the Leicestershire Academy boys and girls pathway. Some of the activities the CTCs will attend include the Chance to Shine Street Programme, the MCC Foundation Hubs and the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz programme.

Pratap has extensive experience of cricket in Leicestershire. He fulfils roles with the Leicester City Cricket Development Organisation (LCCDO), the Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League and the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) giving him a great understanding of the cricketing landscape across the city. 

Badhal has personal experience of being a cricketer within the Leicestershire CCC pathway and Academy, having been identified through the Chance to Shine School programme. He now coaches on a variety of LCCC Community programmes.

The newly formed positions are part of the ECB’s initial support for 3 counties [Leicestershire, Lancashire and Yorkshire]. The Community Talent Champions work will help deliver against the club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity [EDI] Strategy.

Thanks to the ECB investment and the support and Guidance of the NACC, these positions will help to improve the access to the talent pathway in Leicester.

They will be responsible for helping the Leicestershire CCC Head of Academy develop the strategy to overcome identified barriers to participation in the county pathway.

The CTCs will focus on nominating players in the U11 to U14 age range to join the Leicestershire Academy boys or Girls Talent Pathway.

Head of Academy, Alastair Maiden said: “To have Pratap and Badhal come on board is really going to strengthen the work we do within Leicestershire Communities to identify and provide opportunities for young cricket talent.
 
“At Leicestershire CCC, we pride ourselves on being the Academy of Cricket and these appointments go towards driving that strategy and vision. I’d like to pass on a very warm welcome to both Pratap and Badhal and look forward to beginning our work together.”