Dubai: Emirates Cricket Training (ECT) Sharjah emerged as a new force in inter academy cricket by clinching a place in the final of the Dubai Cricket Council’s Cricket for Care Under-15 tournament. They will now take on two-time champions G Force Cricket Academy in the final, to be held on May 18 at the Dubai Men’s College Fairground Oval.
ECT have produced some outstanding performances in this high profile tournament to book a place in the final after G Force and Desert Cubs Academy had dominated this tournament for the last two years.
Speaking to Gulf News, Kashif Ahmad the Head Coach of ECT Sharjah, said: “We have made it to the final through sheer hard work from my boys. Our skipper Shams Ullah had been outstanding with two centuries and allround performances. It is our first ever entry into a final of a tournament and we will try our best to win it too.”
ECT, owned by Khalid Sarwar, was established by former Pakistan Test star Tauseef Ahmed. After the latter returned to Pakistan, Kashif Ahmad took over as the head coach. “Though I had assisted Tauseef who is my uncle, I could not devote much time for coaching. For the last two years, I have been devoting a lot of time with the boys and I am delighted the boys have responded well to my guidance,” added Ahmad, who trains the boys at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
ECT booked their place in the final defeating Young Talents Cricket Academy by seven runs in the 35 over semifinal match. Following suggestion from Shyam Bhatia, the sponsor of the tournament, the number of overs for the semifinal has been increased to 35 overs and final into a 40-over contest to allow youngsters to settle down and display their skills.
ECT were bowled out for 99 in 32 overs, thanks to Sparsh Hegde’s four-wicket spell but YTCA were bowled out for 92 through Shams Ullah and Ihsanullah’s three wicket spells. Ullah had also hit a timely 19 runs.
Meanwhile, G Force clinched a place in the final and is poised for a hat-trick of titles in this tournament. Desert Cubs’ hopes of winning this tournament were once again dashed by G Force with Sushen Thapar (3 for 15) and Mohammad Saud (2 for 15) bowling out Cubs for 77 runs.
G Force’s Rishi Ramchandani and Krishna Lakhani scored 33 runs each to ensure their team’s victory in just 20.1 overs.
