Emirati Warriors given free entry to Ramadan event

Dubai: The Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) is giving free entry for a team made up of UAE-born cricketers, including many nationals, for the upcoming Interface Ramadan Twenty20 tournament.

The DCC is keen to spread the game among UAE nationals and is in the process of working out plans to encourage them to play in tournaments.

This squad, which is known as the Emirati Warriors, recently participated in the DCC-supported Superstars T20 tournament. The DCC is now keen that this team gets to play regularly in the council’s tournaments.

The move to waive the entry fee was taken by DCC Chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, who has been very keen to attract Emiratis into the game. Mohammad Redha Abbas, the chief selector of the UAE national team, is also the vice-chairman of the DCC and he told Gulf News that “all efforts will be made to groom UAE nationals for international cricket”.

The DCC has even scheduled the opening match of the tournament to include the Emirati Warriors. They will take on Globelink West Star Shipping in the opener on Monday.

This is the fourth edition of the Interface Transworld Ramadan T20 Cricket Tournament and it will open at the Fairgrounds venue at Dubai Men’s College.

The champions of the 12-team tournament will win Dh15,000, while the runners-up will take home Dh10,000. There will also be cash prizes worth Dh5,000 for standout performances.

The draw was held at the new DCC office at Dubai Silicon Oasis, with the teams split into three groups of four. The top two sides in each group will advance to the knockout stages.

Group A will be made up of Alubond Tigers, Team Interface, New Medical Centre and Al Faraa Contracting Company, while Lanka Lions, Light Speed Garage, United Bank Limited and Fly Emirates make up Group B. Multiplex International, Emirati Warriors, One Stop Tourism and Globelink West Star Shipping are the teams in Group C.