Dubai: The UAE team have cricketers on Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) visa now who can devote full time to playing cricket like professionals.
Speaking to Gulf News, Aaqib Javed, who has stepped down as coach, said: “For the next UAE coach it will be easy going because he will have at least eight players full time to train. The players who will be on ECB’s visa are Swapnil Patil, a consistent batsman, Mohammad Qasim, a promising batter, Mohammad Usman, a good left hander, Imran Haider, a good leg spinner, Qadeer Khan, a fast bowler and Rameez Shehzad, a very talented player and Shahzad Manna, a good allrounder. When I joined as coach, the situation was such that when I called a player for training he would say that he is India or Pakistan as we had no control over their visas and on what they did.”
Javed also revealed that the players’ contract is also on its way.
“Four players like Amjad Javed, Ahmad Raza, Mohammad Naveed and Shaimon Anwar are on their own visas but they will all be contracted too as well. I have already given them a plan scheduled from the end of Ramadan. So you will have around 12 good quality players training on full- time basis. The UAE also have two professional selectors now who are former players in Mohammad Tauqir and Khurram Khan. With facilities here, which is the best in the world, it should be a good journey for the new coach. The players are really mature and now know to discuss their matters with a coach. The domestic structure is already being processed with an Under-19 all Emirates tournament and a senior Emirates tournament. All full-member nations have a good structure which is competitive at city or state level and they have full-time players. What worries me is the pathway within the UAE because players go away from the UAE after the age of 16 and 18. People are now talking about the UAE because they have seen us playing in Asia Cup and World Cup and kids are now talking about playing for the UAE. The government must be made aware of the exposure that the UAE has given to the country by playing in the World Cup and Asia Cup. The name of the UAE has appeared in newspapers around the world through cricket and if the UAE government can recognise cricket and provide support then youngsters will stay here for a career in cricket,” he said.
