Sport | Cricket
A cricket club only for UAE nationals
A cricket club, exclusively for UAE passport holders, was formed on Friday with an aim to spread the game among nationals here. A group of young enthusiastic UAE nationals assembled at the Al Manzil hotel and announced their plans.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 10, 2007
- Image Credit:
- Members of the cricket club, comprising only UAE nationals, pose at the press conference.
Dubai: A cricket club, exclusively for UAE passport holders, was formed on Friday with an aim to spread the game among nationals here.
A group of young enthusiastic UAE nationals assembled at the Al Manzil hotel and announced their plans to attract more UAE nationals into the game.
The lead is being taken by Alawi Shukri, a 17-year-old national who had played for UAE under-19 team and was the vice captain of the UAE Under-15 and Under-17 teams.
Shukri's effort is being supported by Abdul Razzaq Kazim, the former UAE team chief selector, Shukri Al Braik, a leading businessman and Shehzad Altaf, a former UAE team player and coach of the Young Talents' Cricket Academy.
Shukri has formed a 14-member squad and they will play their first match against Young Talents Cricket Academy on June 15 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The club is planning to visit all Arab schools and inspire UAE nationals to take up the game.
Shehzad has offered to provide free coaching to any UAE national wanting to take up the game.
"We have net practice facilities at Jebel Ali Gardens, Delhi Private School (DPS) Sharjah, DPS Dubai, Westminster school, and Pakistan Association," said Shehzad. "The average age of the boys in the team is around 19 and the youngest is eight years old. I showed them video clippings of some great matches and also told them about how the game is played," said Shukri.
"A beginning has to be made and this is the first step towards spreading the game. It might take a few years but we will work hard to spot talented players and encourage them," said Kazim.
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