Kevin Pietersen has revealed that he will open a cricket academy in Dubai at the end of the year after being hugely impressed with the facilities on offer in the city.
The captain of the Delhi Daredevils has spent the last few weeks playing in the United Arab Emirates in the Indian Premier League and has clearly been impressed with the country’s passion for the game.
His first academy will open in Dubai, with a second set to be unveiled in India at a later date.
"I am going to start a cricket academy in Dubai in October. The venue is not confirmed yet but it will be a state-of-the-art facility.
"There will be various courses which will be taught and we will train kids from the age of seven to 18. We will also encourage kids from all over the world to come to take up the course for two weeks.
“I am going to fund a lot of disadvantaged kids and will have a hands-on approach towards the academy.”
Pietersen added: "We chose Dubai because of its central location. The facilities there are magnificent. The opportunity arose last year and we grabbed it. We are expecting kids from all around the world and will also be funding disadvantaged kids.
“After Dubai, the second academy is going to be set up in India for sure. It is high on priority.”
Having been axed from the England set-up Pietersen has been playing in various Twenty20 tournaments around the world but it seems he is also keen to nurture the next generation of cricketers.
