Dubai: Top companies in the UAE have stepped forward to rope in young and promising cricketers to strengthen their team and also boost their skills. Al Nabooda Insurance Brokers and Porsche Centre have formed a team called Al Nabooda Insurance XI on Top by including some of the best Under-19 players in the UAE.
The recent Kerala Premier League (KPL) had set the trend of introducing professionalism into domestic cricket by strengthening the participating teams by picking the best players from the domestic circuit. One of the conditions of the tournament was that every team should have a promising player below the age of 21. Pressure has also been mounting on Emirates Cricket Board to contract talented young players to play for UAE in international matches.
Rajagopal Sukumar, Managing Director of Al Nabooda Insurance Brokers said: “The formation of the team is aimed at providing young players with an effective platform to showcase their talent.”
A few young players who have performed exceptionally well in Division B have already been included in the team. Their vice captain Danish Jabbar is an ex-Under-19 UAE player and Baba Dihan Sariffodeen is currently playing for the UAE under-19 team. In fact, both Jabbar and Sariffodeen have even been employed by Al Nabooda Insurance.
The team will be captained by Akshay Kadalile. Speaking about the backing from reputed companies Kadalile said: “With sponsors coming on board the team can look forward to some excellent performances in the coming tournament. I am delighted with their commitment towards encouraging new talent, building a strong squad and taking sport to an altogether new dimension.”
Emirates airline, Yogi Group, Seven Seas, Nucaf Tellicherry, New Medical Centre are some of the leading companies that rope in talented cricketers to strengthen their teams.
