Kinjal Suratwala works out with Assam juniors at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Sept. 13: The National Cricket Academy?s physio-cum-physical trainer, Kinjal Suratwala, has asked the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) to build a gym as soon as possible to keep the state cricketers fit for national-level tournaments.

Suratwala, who training to the state under-15 players at the Nehru Stadium here, said the youngsters have the best endurance level but not enough strength to become champion players. Good nutrition and regular exercise in a gym are the need of the hour to increase their strength and fitness level, the physio added.

Suratwala, who is associated with cricket for the past 14 years, said: ?For the under-15 players, free-hand exercise can help improving their strength, but for those above this age group a gym is the best place to work on their strength.?

Though some of the trainees from the city take a nutritional diet and have some exposure to fitness training, but the others, especially those from far-flung areas, were behind the mark.

The ACA is going by Suratwala?s diet-list to improve the strength of the 22 trainees in the present under-15 camp.

A trainee starts with a banana and water before the fitness drills, followed by breakfast comprising egg, milk and bread.

Curd and fruits are mandatory items in the menu for lunch and dinner. Rice, meat or fish, two vegetable items and pulses make up the main luncheon meal.

There is more variety in the dinner spread with rice or chappati and green vegetables thrice a week and a non-vegetarian item, pulses and sweet on other nights.

?We are providing everything the physio has prescribed,? ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said.

On his assessment for the past six days, Suratwala said most of the players were improving. ?A gym can help them immensely, especially the under-17 and under-19 players.?

The ACA was unable to find a spot to set up a gym, though the BCCI supplied the equipment a year ago. The association finally had to settle for a hotel here because the R.G. Baruah Sports Complex has been renovated for next year?s 33rd National Games.

The gym will be ready in a couple of months, depending on the clearance from experts, Baruah said.

The players must follow the same menu once they return home after the camp, Suratwala said. ?They will have to continue a similar diet and exercise pattern. They must also teach their friends, who missed this camp, about the nutritional and fitness regimen.?

He thanked and praised the five ACA coaches assisting him in the camp and former Assam Ranji Trophy coach Lalchand Rajput for their tireless efforts.