Dubai: The Shyam Bhatia annual awards will continue its tradition of inviting legendary cricketers to present prizes to the UAE’s outstanding performers of the season. This year, Anil Kumble, former Indian captain, coach and the team's highest wicket taker in Tests, will hand over the trophies and cash awards to the players on March 1.
Speaking to Gulf News, Bhatia said: “We are delighted to get Kumble give away the awards. It [is] an event in which legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram and Viv Richards have handed over the trophies to the top performers. My objective in inviting these legends is to inspire everyone to perform at their best and qualify to receive the award from a great cricketer.”
Kumble is the third-highest wicket taker in the world after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia’s Shane Warne and is known for his shrewd cricketing brain. The event will be held at the Shyam Bhatia Cricket Museum where many legendary cricketers have visited and presented their bats, shirts and shoes from their top matches as memorabilia. Bhatia takes every winner of the award on a tour of the museum to inspire them and set goals for international fame.
“I have increased the number of awards every year by adding many categories. For the first time this year a Lifetime Achievement Award has been added to the list of awards. A person for his/her dedicated service to UAE cricket will be picked for the award on the day,” said Bhatia.
“Australia’s renowned journalist, author and cricket commentator Mike Coward will be present to keep the crowd entertained with his cricketing trivia,” added Bhatia.
Coward has authored many books including Cricket Beyond the Bazaar, Calypso Summer and The Chappell Years.
