UAE cricketers over 40 set for new innings

Dubai: For the cricket councils in the UAE, the theme of life beginning at 40 is more than a cliche. In a welcome move, the four councils have joined hands to organise the first ever inter-council forties’ league tournament.

“There are many good cricketers in the UAE who are in their forties. Some of them were top first class cricketers during their playing days and many are hanging up their boots due to the age factor. We want to spread the message that people turn old only when they stop playing and have created this league. This will not only help them to continue to exhibit their skills but also make them fitter,” said Shiva Pagarani, Convener, Media, Finance and Administration of the Dubai Cricket Council.

“It will be known as veteran’s league for 40-plus cricketers. Abu Dhabi and Dubai will field their teams while Ajman will join hands with Sharjah Cricket Council for a combined team. We have given a wild card entry for a team from the Sindhis’ veteran cricket tournament,” Pagarani, who has been a huge campaigner for veterans’ cricket, told Gulf News.

Each team will play the rest of the teams twice on home and away basis. “The matches will be organised at the best grounds and the hosts of the match will have to take care of the entire necessities of the team and provide all facilities. The event is being backed by the Emirates Cricket Board, who are also keen to see that cricketers do not stop playing due to age factor,” said Pagarani.

In the first game of the tournament where DCC 40’s hosted the Sindhi Cricket Club 40’s squad on the Sevens grounds, left-arm spinner Gopal Jasapara stole the thunder with a five-wicket spell to steer DCC to a 41 run win over Sindhis. Jasapara who was a former Saurashtra Ranji Trophy player is one of the leading cricket coaches in the UAE.

Batting first, DCC 40’s posted a challenging 168 for 8 in their allotted 25 over’s. Their innings saw former UAE and India’s North Zone player Vijay Mehra crack 40 off 36 balls along with another Hyderabad first class star Abbas Khan who hit 42 runs off 40 balls put on 57 runs for the second wicket. Former Goa and zonal player Ambey Parwatkar and CTK Nasir, who launched Nucaf Tellicherry team and inspired a generation of young cricketers through his club, hit 13 runs each. Jasapara chipped in with 18 runs off six balls to swell the total. For Sindhis, Neeraj Ramanamurthy, who owns the formidable Wings Cricket team took two wickets along with Vinay Mehra.

Sindhis got off to a good start through openers Sujit Salian (16) and Paresh Amarnani 25 but the introduction of spin by DCC skipper Shoeb Mujlani, who is also the DCC’s convenor of special projects, changed the complexion of the match. Jaspara returned with figures of 5 for 29 from his 5 overs. He was well supported by Parwatkar with 2 for 12. Jasapara was declared man of the match.

Mohammad Lokhandwala, who was former captain of Air India and one of the consistent scorers in domestic cricket, and I.P Khaitan, who once played alongside Indian Test star Dilip Doshi in Kolkata, was part of the winning DCC team.

With the tournament getting off to a cracking start, many players over the age of 40 in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman too have commenced training to give their best in the coming matches.