UAE coach plans to bring grade system to domestic cricket

Dubai: UAE cricket team coach Aaqib Javed hopes to introduce a sub-continental-style gradation system in domestic cricket that will see the seven emirates' teams play matches against each other.

The former Pakistan pacer turned coach, who is shaping up the UAE national team through an intensive coaching programme at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy, wants the UAE to follow a pyramid structure.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Javed said: "There are enough tournaments held in the UAE at all levels starting from schools to club level, but what is missing is regional cricket at the national level.

"We need to have regional teams and play inter-emirate matches. Every cricketer must come up the ladder playing at different grades for their emirate like in India and Pakistan, where everyone starts off by playing for his city at under-15 level before graduating to under-18 and Under-22.

Pyramid structure

"Eventually, they can then play provincial or zonal cricket before reaching the national team. We need to follow a pyramid structure in the development of our cricket." Javed, who came up the ranks starting from schools cricket and went on to become one of the finest pace bowlers in the world, said: "In Pakistan everyone aims to represent Karachi or Lahore teams at different levels, while in India one aims to play for Mumbai or Delhi depending on where the player is residing.

"In UAE too we should have Sharjah, Dubai, Al Ain, Ajman teams. It will be nice if everyone can aim to move step by step from schools to club level and then the Emirate (national level) and step into first class cricket."

Javed is delighted with the amount of cricket that is being played in the UAE.

"I appreciate the number of tournaments held here. There are inter-schools, inter-university and even tournaments from Under-13 to all age categories, but these players must have something to aim for to move into the next grade," he said.

"Once the inter-Emirate matches are planned then competition will also improve. For any improvement in standard we need planning, budget, thorough help from sponsors and execution of the plans. We have appointed a marketing person to explore possibilities and with all the effort we can usher in improvement."