Three of India's promising cricketers -- Vikram Rajvir Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh and Cheteshwar Pujara -- have won the 2005 Border-Gavaskar scholarship to undergo training at Australia's Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) from next week.
The scholarship programme, founded in 2000, is a joint initiative between Cricket Australia and the Australia-India Council (AIC).
During their six-week stay, from June 20 to July 31, at the CBCE the players will receive specialist tutelage and development support from some of Australia's leading coaching staff, including head coach Tim Nielsen.
The trio will also participate in an emerging players' tournament, run by the CBCE, next month involving the New Zealand Cricket Academy, Australian Institute of Sport scholars and players from Karnataka.
The three players were selected for the scholarship by a Board of Control for Cricket in India panel headed by former captain Sunil Gavaskar.
The scholarship programme was an important part of the AIC's objective to promote understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
Vikram Rajvir is a fast bowler who represents Punjab in Ranji Trophy. Uttar Pradesh seamer Rudra Pratap was a member of India's under-19 World Cup squad while batsman Pujara
played for India colts in the Test series against England.
CBCE director Trevor Robertson said the scholarships offered the young cricketers a tremendous opportunity to broaden their playing and personal experience.
"Since the Border-Gavaskar scholarship was launched, we have seen a number of promising Indian players visit Australia to participate in some of our coaching programmes and gain valuable experience under foreign playing conditions," Robertson said in a Cricket Australia media statement on Thursday.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for the players and the three young Indian cricketers due to arrive here next week have been earmarked in their country as players of the future.
"The experience they will gain while at the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence will hopefully help their growth on a personal and playing level.
"Australia and India share a passion for cricket and we are pleased that through the Australia-India Council, we are able to provide an opportunity to host these talented cricketers."
Welcoming India's young cricket ambassadors, AIC Chairman Darren Gribble said cricket was a common bond between the two countries that help to foster the people-to-people links.
Gribble said the scholarship was a valuable opportunity for emerging young players to gain experience by being exposed to different environments and conditions.
The previous Border-Gavaskar scholarship winners include Mohammad Kaif, S Sriram, Shiv Sundar Das, Parthiv Patel, Lakshimiphathy Balaji and Gautam Gambhir.
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