Shyam Bhatia cricket museum could get a bigger place: Hareb
aWaRDS WINNeRS
dubai — The only private cricket museum in the UAE owned by Shyam Bhatia could soon have a bigger public space.
“Space may be tight here for this museum in this place. Insha’Allah, one day with Dubai Sports Council (DCC) and government, we are going to find a place,” announced Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, while speaking at the Shyam Bhatia Awards on Sunday.
“We (DCC) are proud to see Bhatia make Dubai as a destination for sport (cricket), especially his museum,” he pointed out.
Praising Bhatia’s efforts for the game of cricket in Dubai, he said: “We have value for sport and you are the man for the sport doing so much for UAE cricket.”
“Shyam Bhatia is a cricket man and he has spent his lifetime for cricket,” said Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the game in the UAE since 1970.
Falaknaz modestly pointed out that there were other more deserving people in the UAE for the Lifetime Achievement Award. “There are people worthier than I for (the) lifetime award, one of them is Mohammed Reda Abbas. He has given all his life to cricket and he has travelled the world watching cricket and following the UAE cricket on his account,” Falaknaz added.
He felt that the UAE cricket was in right hands after Mohammed Reda Abbas’ son Zayed Abbas followed in his footstep with Waleed Abbas.
“Annual Awards is the moments to see local cricketers been rewarded by celebrity cricketers,” revealed Bhatia in his opening speech at the award, which was beamed live on Facebook.
“Kumar Sangakkara is here today and seeing the budding cricketers around them gives me lots of happiness. We will continue to encourage our budding cricketers in UAE,” he announced.
“My museum and my awards are my life. I will continue do my best to serve my love of the game of cricket,” Bhatia pledged.
The guest of honour, Sangakkara said: “It is such a pleasure to be with the 19th Shyam Bhatia UAE cricket awards. Nice to see so many budding cricketers are here witness this wonderful initiative taken by Mr Bhatia.”
“Cricket is great game and one should play with passion and follow
There are people worthier than I for (the) lifetime award, one of them is Mohammed Reda Abbas. He has given all his life to cricket and he has travelled the world watching cricket
Abdul Rehman Falaknaz
the rules of human values,” he advised young UAE-based cricketers.
“Play hard but play fair. How you manage your game is more important on and off the field. You will have to be more focus on culture you develop in your early days of cricket. My best wishes to winners and best wishes to budding cricketers out there.”
Shyam Bhatia presented Suhail Abdul Latif Galadari, Director, Galadari Brothers, with a Wasim Akram-autographed bat from his museum.