Dubai: A cricket club which was formed as a means to bring cricketers over the age of 40 back into the game has transformed into a powerhouse of a large group of powerful business community with backing from the members of the royal family, dignitaries and high ranking officials.
The Forty's Cricket Club which was unveiled through a colourful ceremony, attended by UAE's top businessmen, members of the royal families of Ajman and Sharjah and Ambassadors of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Thursday night at the Grand Hyatt is set to become an exclusive networking forum with a defined programme of corporate affairs, entertainment and sports.
It all began during a match between Indian Invitation XI and Indian Consulate General's XI to celebrate India's Republic Day this year. Businessman I. P. Khaitan, who is in his seventies, steered the last ball of the match to scramble for a single and give Invitation XI an exciting one wicket win. It lifted the spirits of all the players as they could prove that even in their forties they could produce exciting cricket. Sanjay Verma, the Indian Consul General displayed his talent as a brilliant and agile wicketkeeper.
This match was followed by a match against the UK veteran's cricket team made up of former English county team players. Through brilliant performances from Shaji Ul Mulk, CTK Nasir and skipper Freddy Sidhwa, the UAE veteran's team, as it was then called, won the match. This victory ignited the urge to form the over forty's club involving Khaitan as chairman, Shaji Ul Mulk as vice chairman, Mazhar Khan as co-ordinator and Mohammad Lokhandwala as treasurer.
The news of this club was well received by top businessmen in the UAE and today it is on the verge of becoming an organisation which may sparkle as a symbol of the passion for the game defying the demands of age. Freddy Sidhwa, CTK Nasir, Shiva Pagarani and Shaji Ul Mulk are cricketers who have refused to stop playing and through match winning performances inspired a whole new generation of cricketers.
Speaking at the launch function Indian Ambassador M.K. Lokesh said: "It is indeed an auspicious start for the club as it has been launched on the day Virender Sehwag has broken the world record for the highest score in One-day cricket."
Mazhar Khan, the co-ordinator of the club, said: "We have many ambitious plans. The members will get to play in the best stadiums around the world. We will be also hosting the World Veterans tournament involving 16 countries in 2013. The club will also try and support the development of the game in UAE. Plans are also on to stage an Indian Premier League type of tournament involving all GCC countries."
