DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – Former Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju would be part of the coaching team for the ICC Americas Cricket Combine to be held in Indianapolis, USA next month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday.

Raju joins a high caliber coaching panel for the Combine which also includes West Indies great Courtney Walsh and internationally renowned American fielding coach Mike Young.

“I can’t wait to work with Courtney, Mike and the other coaches to help the players improve their skills, in what really is an exciting initiative for the development of the game,” said Raju.

“I played for a couple of seasons, mainly in the Washington and New Jersey areas, and therefore have already seen first-hand the talent that exists in the Americas Region”.

About 100 of the best players within the region will take part in the Combine, following which an ICC Americas representative team will be selected to play in the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Nagico Super 50 tournament during January 2016.

The best performing players could then receive an opportunity to trial for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

In an international career spanning 11 years, Raju played 28 Tests and 53 ODIs, including the ICC Cricket World Cups in 1992 and 1996.

“Raju has had a long and distinguished career as an international player, selector, coach and administrator, and is now an important member of the ICC’s development team,” said ICC’s Head of Global Development, Tim Anderson.

“It’s therefore great that he is able to assist this important project in the America’s region, in what is an example of the integrated approach the ICC is now taking to assist cricket’s global development.”

The Combine will have two phases, with Phase 1 being an open trial from 18 to 21 September.

The best players from Phase 1 will then be invited to attend Phase 2 of the Combine from 24 to 27 September, after which the ICC Americas team will be selected.