Sharjah: The Red Flower Tourism team showed a never-say-die spirit to emerge champions in the 27th Sharjah Ramadan Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. Despite losing three finals in their debut season, they never gave up hope and came out triumphant in their fourth title clash, defeating Multiplex International by 20 runs.
It was an emotional moment for the team members with the team dedicating their victory to the memory of their coach Irfan Ansari’s son Sa’ad Ansari, who died in a bike accident on June 5.
Speaking to Gulf News, Renjith Jaganath, the owner of the team said: “The motto we follow is play fair and never give up till the end. Despite our debut season, we reached the finals of Asianet Premier League, Desert Premier League, Al Dhaid Ramadan Cup but we never gave up our spirit despite losing three finals and that has helped us lift this prestigious Sharjah Ramadan Cup. We are now in the final of the Ajman Cricket Council Ramadan Cup too and may win it too.
“We dedicate our trophy to the memory of our coach Irfan Ansari’s son Sa’ad who died in an accident. It was Irfan as coach who shaped us into a fighting team and despite his huge personal setback he came and coached us to victory. Sa’ad was a friend of all of our players.”
Batting first, Red Flower were bowled out for only 124 runs with Ubadah Barmawar topscoring with 32 runs. Red Flower then came out all guns blazing to bundle out Multiplex for 104 in 17.5 overs with right arm medium pacer Wasim Ali Mirza standing out with a spell of 4 for 15.
Mirza, who hails from Uttar Pradesh state in India, also bagged the award for the best bowler of the tournament.
“Our team is not made up of any international players but only players who play domestic cricket here and seven of them are employed with our company. We train hard together at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and that is why we could create such an impact in our first season,” added Renjith.
Red Flower captain Yasir Kaleem admitted that the total his team had posted was by no means impressive but said his team then went for the kill straight away. Multiplex were left tottering at 26 for 4 at one stage. If not for Abdul Shakoor’s 26 and Abdul Haq’s unbeaten 22, Multiplex would have been bowled out well under the 100 mark.
Speaking to Gulf News, Red Flower coach Ansari said: “It is important to know that no match is lost till the last ball is bowled and that is what my team players did. They played hard and I am happy this team is shaping into a strong one.”
Syed Maqsood of UBL bagged the player of the tournament award and cash prize of Dh2,000 for top scoring with 347 runs while UAE’s hard-hitting batsman Shaiman Anwar, who piled up 314 runs, won the best batsman award and cash prize of Dh1,000.
Mirza of Red Flower won the man of the final honour to go with his best bowler award.
The Red Flower team received Dh15,000 in prize money and Multiplex received Dh10,000 for their runners-up finish.
Brief scores: Red Flower Tourism bt Multiplex International by 20 runs. Red Flower: 124 in 20 overs (Ubadah Barmawar 32, Salman Randhawa 22; Zeeshan Khan 2 for 20, Imran Haider 2 for 18, Abdul Haq 2 for 23). Multiplex International: 104 in 17.5 overs (Abdul Shakoor 26, Abdul Haq 22n.o; Wasim Ali Mirza 4 for 15, Shafaqat Ali 2 for 33, Mubashir Ahmad 2 for 18).
