Continuing with its efforts to revive the country's traditional expertise in slow bowling, the Board of Control for Cricket in India will hold its third Spin conclave in Kolkata on Saturday with a core group slated to chalk out an action plan for the Board's Spin Wing.
The working group, comprising National Cricket Academy chairman Sunil Gavaskar, director Brijesh Patel, spin stalwarts Bishen Singh Bedi, E A S Prasanna, V V Kumar, Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, will hold a brainstorming session to draw up a detailed plan of action.
However, Board sources said former off-spin great S Venkataraghavan will not be attending the meeting.
It is interesting to note that Shastri, who was not considered for the earlier conclaves, has been invited for the meet.
Though Dalmiya had then claimed that the Board had invited only specialist slow bowlers and not spin all-rounders like Shastri, critics felt the decision to keep the former Test player out was an of-shoot of the bitter relations between the Mumbai-based former cricketer and the Board on the ICC contract issue.
Concerned about India's inability to produce quality spinners at the international level ever since the arrival of offie Harbhajan Singh, the BCCI held its first conclave last May, when 12 spin wizards of the past and present participated.
Acting on its recommendations, the Board later announced measures, like a ban on one-day matches for junior teams up to the under-17 age group, regular workshops for spinners at the zonal level and inviting former spin greats to train the youngsters.
The second conclave, attended by a core committee of spinners last November, had then prepared a blueprint and tomorrow's conclave will follow-up on the recommended form of action.
