11:21am Friday 9th February 2007
CHIPPENHAM all-rounder Uzi Qureshi is dreaming of a future in first class cricket after he was named the first ever associate member of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's Academy.
Qureshi had also been invited to join Hampshire and train with Somerset, but the 13-year-old opted for Gloucestershire, where he will benefit from year round coaching and will act as 12th man for the senior sides.
"I've wanted to be a first class cricketer since I could walk and this is a great opportunity to fulfil that dream," he said.
"I want to go on and play for Gloucestershire and England."
Qureshi, who made his first century aged 10, came to the attention of the selectors after his club Chippenham set up a coaching link with the county last summer.
Gloucestershire Academy director Stuart Barnes praised the north Wiltshire club for their contribution to Qureshi's progress.
Barnes said: "I'm hopeful Uzi will be the first of many Gloucestershire players to come through Chippenham's excellent coaching system.
"His contributions during our coaching sessions have been very impressive for someone so young and I'm looking forward to working with him."
Chippenham Academy director Steve Dolman added: "This is one of the benefits to flow from the link we formed last summer and, we hope, the start of a very fruitful partnership."
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