Dubai: A Dubai tournament, the annual Indian Independence Day Cricket Festival, will complete two decades of existence on Friday, August 18.
The tournament, held to celebrate the 71st Indian Independence Day on August 15, will be hosted at the Ocean Fair Sports Club Ground at Dubai Investment Park.
It is organised by veteran UAE umpire Tariq Butt.
This seven-a-side cricket festival, comprising eight ‘B’ division teams, has remained popular since its inception and is held on the first Friday after August 15.
Speaking to Gulf News, Butt said: “It is a great feeling when a tournament completes 20 years. We are delighted that we have been able to stage this tournament without a break. Thanks to cricket enthusiasts Freddy Sidhwa of Ocean Fair and Deepak Arora of Wahda Contracting who have been supporting this event for 20 years. They have been donating the prizes for this tournament.”
Many teams look forward to playing in the event, he said.
“The slots are provided on first come, first serve basis. Although it is held to celebrate India’s Independence Day, the tournament is eagerly contested by cricketers from Pakistan and even Sri Lanka,” said Butt, who also hails from Pakistan.
Butt has also been staging the UAE National Day cricket tournament for the last 29 years.
“It was a special feeling when I completed the 25th edition of the UAE National Day tournament in 2013. This is one of the oldest tournaments in the UAE which is meant for expatriates from various backgrounds and nationalities to celebrate the National Day in their adopted home. We are happy that we could stage this event too for nearly 30 years without a break,” said Butt.
Cricketers now look forward eagerly for Butt’s tournaments and some of the teams make it a point never to miss his events. He even announces the dates of tournaments long in advance in order for teams to be ready.
“The Shijna Cup is another tournament which I have been staging for the last 15 years. The next edition’s dates have already been finalised and will be held on November 4.”
Butt’s strength is the support from cricket enthusiasts who regularly sponsor his tournament.
“The Shijna Cup is sponsored by Shamir Ahmad of Shijna Trading. Ahmad, like Sidhwa and Arora, donates all the prizes for the top performers,” said Butt.
