Preparing players for the long road
UAE academies take the lead in providing exposure overseas
Cricket academies in the UAE have taken a lead in providing as much exposure as possible to budding cricketers. Desert Cubs Cricket Academy, Al Ain Sportsplex Cricket Academy and Emirates Cricket Training Dubai are three who have really taken to the job.
Desert Cubs Cricket Academy’s under- 13 and under- 15 teams have embarked on a tour to Doha, where they will play two 30- over games and one Twenty20, in addition to participating in all- day cricket carnival involving teams from Qatar.
Speaking to Gulf News, Presley Polonnowita, Desert Cubs’ head coach, said: “Our young cricketers have benefited from these tours and have gained valuable experience by way of sporting knowledge, team work, adapting to different conditions, discipline and leadership skills.
The Emirates Cricket Training Dubai ( ECT Dubai) touring Oman experienced the thrill of close matches. They won a last ball thriller to take a 4- 0 lead in the five- match Oman Day cricket series against hosts Gulf Cricket Centre. Batting first, GCC piled up 272 for four in 30 over’s thanks to an unbeaten century by Vipin Sebastian and a 61- run knock by Basit Barkat ECT’s Abdul Wasay Rizwan took 3 for 29.
ECT fought back through Vishaal Motiraj, who hit 56. At one stage ECT were 170 for 7, but middle order batsman Swithin Joseph scored an unbeaten 90 to extent ECT’s winning streak.
Meanwhile, Al Ain Sportsplex Cricket Academy will stage the 11th annual Ramada Gulf Cup under the auspices of the Skyline University College, Sharjah. It will be the biggest cricket tournament ever with over 1,000 players participating. This year’s event has attracted 20 teams and 60 matches will be held over a period of two weeks. Matches will be played at Skyline University College and DPS Schools and Al Ain Sportplex.