Ajman: A tournament meant to spot talented youngsters on the UAE cricket scene concluded with the Ajman Nawabs crowning themselves champions in the Ajman Rising Stars Cup after defeating Ajman Lions by 40 runs in the final.
The tournament was held on the Ajman Cricket Council’s initiative with two renowned coaches — Shahzad Altaf and Obaid Hameed — backing it up. The event featured the best talent in the country from the age of 12 to 19, who were drawn into six teams. At a time when the majority of the tournaments are being held in the Twenty20 format, these two coaches decided to stage a 40-over event.
Nawabs won six out of their six matches to showcase their complete supremacy.
In the final, Nawabs’ captain Alishan Sharafu won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Anwar Khan fell for four but Sharafu hit 26 runs before off-spinner Trish Shetty struck twice. Siddhant Agarwal and Neil Lobo weighed in with 35 each while Ayan Khan scored 25 to help Nawabs post 165 for 9 in 40 overs.
Lions got off to a bad start with Safeerullah Khan and Ayan Khan getting the early breakthroughs. Lions’ consistent batsman Ronak Panoly was sent back by Zuhaib Zuhair for 22. Captain Haider Wasi Shah came up with a fighting 50 but Zuhair’s four wickets meant the Lions were never quite in the hunt and ultimately fell well short of the target.
Speaking to Gulf News, coach Hameed said: “This tournament is the start of many more to come under Ajman Council. The very fact we hosted a 40-over tournament is to give quality cricket to youngsters. In the next edition, we will provide two-day matches for each team. We want to take the young cricketers’ focus away from T20 format and help them learn to stay at the wicket. This event is also a prelude to the Ajman Council’s plan to launch their academy, which will start operating from September. Ajman Council’s Shaji Ul Mulk and coach Shehzad Altaf is providing huge support ensure as many platforms as possible for the youngsters. This will enable them play at the higher level.”
Hameed also revealed that players from abroad will be included in the next edition. “We want to raise the standard of the tournament and hence will include Under-19 players form Pakistan, India and Ireland to play alongside the youngsters in UAE,” added Hameed.
