Mani named new chief of Abu Dhabi Cricket Club

Abu Dhabi: Dilawar Mani, brother of ICC President Ehsan Mani, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club (ADCC) with immediate effect.

The ADCC issued a statement announcing that a new management team will be put in place to spearhead the development of cricket in Abu Dhabi.

"The exciting matches in the DLF Cup generated much-needed interest for cricket in Abu Dhabi. Adding our state-of-art cricket stadium to the equation, I believe the new management team will successfully develop and further promote cricket in Abu Dhabi and the region overall.

"I would like to thank outgoing President Dr. B.R Shetty and his team for years of dedicated service, contribution and commitment to the ADCC. The foundation which they have built will go a long way with the new management team," said Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education, Patron of the ADCC and Honourary Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

Dilawar Mani, a chartered accountant by profession, has been a resident of Abu Dhabi since 1981 and was also head of the organising committee for the DLF Cup.

He said he would be naming his team in due course and also predicted changes to the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council.

The Zayed Cricket Stadium is administered by the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club while the 40-odd Second Division teams and the lone First Division team are part of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council.

"It's indeed a very exiting challenge. We will try to maximize the number of cricket days at the stadium and continue the momentum of high-profile international competitions that has successfully begun with the DLF Cup," said Mani.

"The new management team will aim to continue to develop and promote cricket at the grassroots' level through the Zayed Cricket Academy, organise more domestic tournaments, host international tournaments and organise inter-emirates tournaments to maximize cricket days at the Zayed Cricket Stadium," he said.