Ajmer Gets World-Class Cricket Training as Yusuf Pathan Launches CAP Center

The Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) marked a significant milestone with the grand opening of its 37th center at Presidency School in Ajmer, Rajasthan, solidifying its commitment to nurturing cricket talent across India. Led by co-founder and former Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, whose explosive performances in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup remain etched in cricket lore, the inauguration underscored CAP’s mission to democratize access to elite coaching.

As the fifth center in Rajasthan, this launch, attended by local dignitaries and aspiring cricketers, highlights the academy’s strategic focus on tier-2 cities, aiming to unearth hidden gems in regions often overlooked by traditional sports infrastructure.

Yusuf Pathan, whose 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India included iconic moments like a blistering 37-ball IPL fifty for Rajasthan Royals in 2008, spoke passionately at the event: “Our objective is to ensure that talent and potential are identified and developed in every corner of the country. This new center in Ajmer is a pivotal step in our ongoing mission to expand our footprint and contribute meaningfully to the future of the sport by providing world-class training and mentorship to young athletes.”

Founded in 2018 with his brother Irfan Pathan at Mumbai’s Cricket Club of India, CAP has grown to 41 centers nationwide, training over 15,000 students and guiding more than 450 players to prestigious tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, with alumni like Chandra Prakash Meena (U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy) and Sheetal Rout (Odisha U-15 women’s team) making waves.

The Ajmer center embodies CAP’s innovative approach, blending cutting-edge technology with expert coaching. Managing Director Harmeet Vasdev elaborated: “Our expansion into Ajmer is a strategic move to nurture untapped talent, providing a structured pathway for young athletes who have previously lacked access to high-quality training. Integral to this pathway is our curriculum, which integrates technology-driven analysis tools like StanceBeam with specialized coaching to produce a steady pipeline of talent.”

StanceBeam, a smart bat sensor endorsed by cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan, provides real-time analytics on swing and impact, enhancing training precision. Under mentors like former India coach Greg Chappell and Cameron Tradell, CAP emphasizes technical skills, mental resilience, and tactical acumen, preparing players like Ayush Kumar Singh (U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy) for national stages.

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CAP’s commitment to inclusivity shines through its recent partnership with a leading Indian NBFC, which funds annual scholarships for female athletes across its network, breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport. With programs like Lucknow’s Rs. 12,000 four-month half-day sessions and Patna’s dedicated stadium with indoor nets, CAP ensures accessibility for diverse socio-economic groups. The Ajmer center, equipped with modern facilities and personalized coaching, targets underprivileged youth, offering them a platform to dream big. Vasdev noted that the academy’s holistic model, combining data-driven insights with mentorship from Pathan brothers’ own journeys, has already produced a steady talent pipeline, with plans to replicate this success nationwide.

Looking ahead, CAP is set to launch over 25 new centers in 2025, targeting tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Hyderabad, Berhampur (Odisha), Madhubani (Bihar), Karimnagar (Telangana), and Kolkata. This franchise-driven expansion reflects the Pathan brothers’ vision of bridging urban-rural divides, much like their own rise from Baroda’s modest grounds. As Yusuf, now a Trinamool Congress MP from Baharampur, balances public service with his cricketing legacy, CAP’s Ajmer launch stands as a beacon of hope for aspiring cricketers. By fostering talent with world-class resources and an inclusive ethos, the academy is poised to shape India’s cricketing future, one swing at a time.

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