Shuja Naqvi (UH Cougars) going to the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy !
Shuja Navqi (UH Cougars) bowling at the American College Cricket SW Regionals at Texas A & M
Former University of Houston Cougars Captain and fast bowler Shuja Navqi will begin a stint at the Darren Lehman Cricket Academy in Australia, on Jan 26,2015. Darren Lehman is the current Coach of the Australian Cricket team.
For the 2nd American College Cricket National Championship in 2010 Shuja pulled together a team to represent the University of Houston Cougars. His leadership, and passion impressed American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah as, at that time it was even more difficult to get the resources & players to field a college team so far from home (the Nationals were in Florida). In Jan 2011 Shuja again captained the Cougars in the first American College Cricket South West Regionals held on the Texas A & M campus, and returned for the 2012 Nationals.
“Most recently Shuja contributed significantly with our arrangements for the eventually postponed South West Regionals,”said Lloyd,“Like many of our former players he remains a part of American College Cricket, in spirit and in deed.”
Recently graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Finance, Shuja said, “After being referred to the Darren Lehman Cricket I was contacted by Head Coach Shaun Seigert. The DLCA program was a perfect fit for my need. As I have never received formal coaching, this will be a perfect opportunity to get formal coaching while playing competitive Australian grade cricket. I Will be able to test myself against professional cricketers from around the world and learn the Australian way of training for cricket. I hope to become a better all-round cricketer after this once in a life time experience and play at the highest level possible.
Back in 2010 the experience of getting a ‘touring’ team together for the American College Cricket Nationals was inspirational to me, and a lot of young players and the opportunities provided by American College Cricket really opened new horizons for the game.”
At 5′ 11 (he likes to round it up to 6 ft) and an athletic 170 lbs the 22 year old Shuja is one of the fastest bowlers in Texas,he plays for Memorial CC in the Houston Cricket League and he has also represented his Region in USACA tournaments. With this month long stay in Australia he’ll come back as a greatly improved Cougar just in time for the 2015 American College Cricket National Championship in March (he’s eligible to play as one of 2 alumni) !
With the Smart Choice Moosa Stadium now available as an American College Cricket Home field Shuja will have a first class turf wicket to further his skills on.
University of Houston Cougars team at the 2011 American College Cricket National Championship
About Darren Lehman Cricket Academy:
The DLCA has built its reputation from having professional cricketers come to it to train and play over the course of the English offseason. This then expanded with a partnership with the England Cricket Board sending young developing players on the verge of professional careers to develop their cricket and as young men.
This then expanded with players from the West Indies, Cricket Sri Lanka, MCC, England First Class Counties, and Associate Countries. Over the course of the program the DLCA has seen 12 players progress to International Cricket and 80 to First Class for Full Member Countries.
The DLCA is also able to run High Performance Camps that would give young players the opportunity to have the same coaches from the International Program run a week to 10 days camp that would be a snapshot of the International Program with the same intensity along with games to teach the competitive aspect to the game. Some of the previous scholars of DLCA include Joe Root, Ajmal Shehzad, Monty Panesar and several other current county and international players.
The Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy is a unique model. It provides a tough weekly workout and conditioning program, tough weekly cricket in grade cricket, and if selected exposure to First Class and International players in High Performance games (eg Redbacks, Victoria, BBL team the Melbourne Renegades).
