Dubai: The Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB’s) effort to give a platform to Under-17 cricketers from different academies in the UAE to display their skills has proved to be a huge success. The inaugural UAE Under-17 Academy Cricket League that was being held over a period of six months in different venues in the UAE has reached the play-off stage.
G Force Cricket Academy team, through a splendid performance, finished on top by winning nine out of their 11 matches. This academy, which had dominated Dubai Cricket Council’s Inter Academy tournament, exhibited their strength once again through Krishan Lakhani, who is their team captain and opening batsman. Lakhani shares the highest run getter of the tournament slot so far with Maxtalent Cricket Academy’s Shifran Mulla. They have both amassed a total of 444 runs in the league.
G-Force will now host a home semi-final against GM Academy on April 22 while Zayed Academy, Abu Dhabi, which finished second, will host Young Talents Cricket Academy in the second semi-final also on the same day.
The league, which is a 30 over contest in white ball, was contested by 12 teams and out of them the best four teams will now contest in the play-off for the title. All the 69 matches played on turf pitches are held on a home and away basis.
Andrew Russell, the National Development Manager of the ECB who has been overseeing the conduct of this tournament, is delighted with its impact, and said: “The culture of playing home and away matches is something very unique in the UAE and each academy has embraced this format. This tournament would not be possible without each academy’s support so we are very thankful that they are committed to the development of their players and the game in this region.”
The league also produced some brilliant bowling performances. There are three joint-top wicket takers — Karthik Meiyappan (Zayed Academy), Owais Sajid (DesertCubs Cricket Academy) and Zuhaib Zubair (Sharjah Cricket Academy) with 19 scalps each. In fact, Meiyappan, who is last year’s UAE U-19 leg spinner, has the best average per wicket.
Encouraged by the success and impact of this league, ECB is now planning tournaments in Under-16 and Under-19 50-over tournaments. The best players from these tournaments will be selected to represent the UAE Under-16 and Under-19 level matches.
