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Pakistan’s Mahmood Rashid, national coach of Iran, passing on some home truths to Mozhdeh Bavanpour |
In the long history of Kurdistan (Kordestan) province, cricket has somehow not featured at all. That omission is being corrected by the Iran Cricket Association with their latest coaching program in the north-west of the country. 20 high-school students have gathered in a gymnasium in Kurdistan to be taken through the basics by national coach Mahmood Rashid and by Mozhdeh Bavenpour.

“It’s good to see a new region and some fresh cricketers being introduced to the game,” says AC Development Officer for Iran Iqbal Sikander. Neighbouring Kermanshah, where Ms. Bavenpour is from, has had cricket activity since 2007 and is a source for several of Iran’s women cricketers. “There are a number of dedicated coaches in Iran and their work is inspiring on so many levels. Iran have always had very competitive cricketers and when you consider the conditions from which they come, to do so well in ACC tournaments is very creditable,” says Iqbal.
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Kurdistan’s landscape may well be hilly, but in sport, coaches say, it is attitude that determines altitude. Iran, in heading upcountry, has discovered a fresh source of talent.
Related:
Iran Cricket Profile
Iran’s Monir Habibi Wins Global Development Award
Filed March 12th, 2013