Dubai: A wide range of initiatives are on to boost junior cricket in the UAE through the introduction of more tournaments for different age groups.
The Dubai Cricket Council is set to stage the Cricket for Care Under-17 tournament from the last week of January. This council has also announced that the final of the Under-16 tournament final between Arab Unity School and Gems Modern Academy will be held at the Fair grounds in Dubai Men’s College on January 25.
The GM Cricket Academy and Everest Sports last week staged the Under-17 Ramadan Gulf Cup at the Skyline University Ground. Durham UAE team, maintaining their unbeaten run, defeated visiting Cricket Federation of India by five wickets to lift the title.
With the UAE having played in the Under-19 World Cup last year, many schools, cricket academies and councils are now stepping forward to encourage junior cricket. Last week, OSN, the region’s leading pay television network announced that they will be sponsors of the UAE’s Under-16 and Under-19 teams in international tournaments.
Mohammad Tauqir, the new UAE captain for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, attended the inaugural ceremony of the Al Sadiq ASICS Inter-School Under-10 tournament where he interacted freely with the children. Sharjah Cricket Council officials Mazhar Khan and Ali Anwar Jafri as well as Shehzad Altaf, who played for the UAE in the 1996 World Cup and is now a coach, attended the function.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tauqir appealed to the young cricketers, saying: “Do not waste time on electronic gadgets such as computer games and X-box but play more sport and take part in physical activities.”
In the opening match of the tournament, two-time defending champions Delhi Private School, Dubai got off to a winning start as they defeated Our Own Indian School by 17 runs.
In the Under-17 Ramada Cup final, local cricketers showed that they were stronger than teams from abroad. Batting first, the Cricket Federation of India posted 143 for five in 25 overs and the Durham UAE team won the final with two balls to spare.
The stage is also set for the most awaited Under-16 inter-school final on January 25 commencing from 10.30am in a 30-over match. Arab Unity School defeated Our Own High School by 55 runs in the first semifinal while GEMS Modern Academy downed Indian High School by 103 runs to reach the final.
Renowned cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia has stepped forward to support the Inter Academy tournament for Under-17 cricketers.
Bhatia’s Cricket for Care Foundation, which has supported cricket around the world, will be hosting this event which will see keen contests by all the academies in the UAE.
Announcing the event in the presence of Dubai cricket council officials, he said: “Cricket has taught me discipline, fairness and commitment and I want to pay back to the game by supporting such tournaments for juniors.”
