Shukri becomes youngest cricket official

Dubai: Alawi Shukri, who is spearheading the campaign to attract UAE nationals into the game, has become UAE's youngest cricket official at the age of 19.

Shukri has been inducted into the executive committee of the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC). He shared the dais along with the other officials during the presentation ceremony for the inter-school tournament at the India Club on Sunday.

"We have appointed him as one of our officials so that he will be able to provide us with vital inputs on how to attract more nationals to the game.

"He is one of the most promising national cricketers in the UAE," said Abdul Razzaq Kazim, the vice-president of the DCC.

Shukri is the captain of the newly-formed UAE nationals' team. He has also been selected to represent UAE in the forthcoming Asia Cup in Pakistan.

"Our focus is on spotting young cricketers for the future and providing them with opportunities. Shukri represents the young cricketers in the UAE," added Kazim.

The UAE team for the Asia Cup have four nationals in Mohammad Tauqir, Fahad Al Hashemi, Alawi Shukri and Salman Farooq.