Consistent Shetty eyes key role

Dubai: Vikrant Shetty, easily UAE's most consistent batsman in the just-concluded Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20 tournament held in Nepal, wants to build on his new-found confidence.

"My dream is to be a permanent member of the UAE team and produce match-winning performance like I did in Nepal," said the 28-year-old.

Speaking to Gulf News about his match-winning knocks against Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Shetty said: "I am delighted with my contribution to the team's victory because in both the matches I played my knocks during crucial moments of the game. In the first match against Kuwait we lost quick wickets and I could stay on until the end to ensure the team's victory. It was the first game and everyone wanted a winning start and I am happy that I managed to help the team achieve it." Shetty hit an unbeaten 45 off 32 balls with four boundaries and a six against Kuwait.

In another match against Saudi Arabia, he cracked a breezy unbeaten 63 off just 35 balls with four sixes and three boundaries. "This knock was a crucial one because we had to post a big score in the match. We again lost quick wickets and I took up the responsibility and played till the end to post a good total," said Shetty, who attributes his success with the bat to an advice from UAE coach Kabir Khan.

Indoor game

"Our coach told me that just because it is a Twenty20 tournament, I should not be playing slam bang cricket. He asked me to take the responsibility and stay until the end — reminding me that even singles are important in Twenty20 cricket. The responsibility he gave me boosted my confidence and instead of trying to hit every ball, I picked the right one," said Shetty, who is delighted with his performance.

The success with the bat could not have been better timed for Shetty, whose bowling action was under the scanner sometime back before the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared it legitimate. "My coach told me that in this tournament, my role is as a batsman and he wanted me to deliver. I will be going for more sessions at the ICC with Coach Dayle Hadlee as I want to emerge as a good all-rounder," he said.

Shetty is a product of Dubai's inter-school cricket. "I began my cricket career in Bengaluru and represented Karnataka Under-14 team and played alongside top players like Robin Uthappa and Stuart Binny. I joined Our Own English High School, Dubai, from Grade 11 and got to play in inter-school tournaments," said Shetty, who bagged the best junior cricketer of the Year award in 2001.

Shetty now works as a senior accounts manager with Media Edge (MEC) in the Media City, but drives down to practise at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. "It is tough but thanks to my employers who permit me to leave early at times and also sanction leave for matches," he said.

Shetty is also an indoor cricket specialist. "I play for Danube team who are masters in indoor cricket and that has helped me learn the various techniques," said Shetty, who also got to field for the New Zealand team, along with Naeemuddin Aslam, when five of their players were injured in two Dubai Twenty20 matches against Pakistan in 2009.