New Lady Cricket Cranes Head Coach Suraj Karavadra has revealed that he is ready to hit the ground running with the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) aiming for new heights for the team.
Karavadra, who was announced as new tactician for the ladies side (replacing Michael Ndiko) earlier this month was officially unveiled on Monday at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo in a function attended by officials from UCA and National Council of Sports represented by its Chairperson Donald Rukare.
Karavadra’s immediate challenge is readying the team for the Kwibuka T20 International Tournament slated for June in Kigali and later the Victoria Cup Series in August in Kampala.
However, according to UCA CEO Martin Ondeko, the priority for the Lady Cricket Cranes will be the T20 World Cup qualifiers due in September in Botswana and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Karavadra who is contracted on a two-year deal believes that he is very revved up for his role and with the team already conducting drills, he is ready to give his all to the side.
“This is not a challenge for me so I’m not afraid. I will hit the ground running and I will give more than 100%,” Karavadra said at his unveiling event adding that it’s a great opportunity to work with Uganda Cricket.
Karavadra has a decade long experience in coaching business and now the Indian with Ugandan roots believes that he will channel his expertise to the Lady Cricket Cranes team.
“I have got a lot of experience with a range of age grades in women’s cricket. My passion is always to push women’s cricket to the next level and put them to a stage where they can be showcased. It’s about implementing structures, in the future we (Lady Cricket Cranes) can be unbelievable, that’s my ultimate goal,” Karavadra said adding he’s a player-centred coach who builds a good rapport with his charges.
In 2017, Lady Cricket Cranes were crowned the queens of Africa in Namibia earning themselves an opportunity to compete against the best at the global qualifiers in Netherlands in 2018. Karavadra now aims to ensure that the team maintains its legacy with good displays in the continent and beyond.
However, according to NCS’ Rukare, they will continue supporting UCA but hope that the team makes it to Birmingham.
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Suraj Karavadra’s Previous Experience:
1.2011 Porbandar District Cricket Association, India – U16 Head Coach
2.2013 – 2015 Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club – Community Cricket Coach
●Assisted EPP Programmes, U17 Nottinghamshire Girls, U14 Nottinghamshire Boys and Sub- County U13.
3.2014 Porbandar District Cricket Association, India – Head Coach Men’s Team
4.2015 -2017 Buckinghamshire Cricket Board – Cricket Development Officer
●Coached throughout County Pathway (U11 – U17), Head Coach U15 Buckinghamshire Girls, Lead EPP Wicket Keeping
5.2017 – 2020 ICC Academy, Dubai – High Performance and Development Coach
●Coach throughout the Development Pathway and Performance Pathway, Created and led the Women and Girls Program, Led Masterclasses in Batting/Bowling/Fielding/ WK, Lecturer on the ICC Coach Education Courses and Wicket Kee.
