Coach Rana hits ton to help UCT lift Sharjah T20 Cup

Veteran inspires trainees with third century and bags best batsman award

Veteran cricketer and coach Ali Akbar Rana cracked a century and also bagged the best batsman of the tournament award to help Unique Cricket Training (UCT) Sharjah emerge as the champions of the 24th Sharjah Invitation T20 tournament cup.

Inspiring trainees

Speaking to Gulf News, Rana said: “It is a great feeling to inspire my trainees by showing the way to score a century and win matches. This is my third century of this season and it is the third final for our team. My knocks are not [only] to inspire my boys, but also parents who have stopped playing, to show them that if they can continue playing they can hit sixes and

UCT Sharjah bt Sealine Tuskers by 7 wickets.

UCT: 191 for 3 in 20 overs (Ashwaq Ahmad 23, Akash Devkumar 29, Mansour Ghauri 58n.o, Zeeshan Mushtaq 42). UCT: 193 for 3 in 20 overs (Saleem A Rahim 52, Ali Akbar Rana 115n.o). Ali Akbar Rana

Man of the match: Individual awards:

Best Batsman: Ali Akbar Rana, Best Bowler: Jude Perera, Player of the tournament: Zeeshan Mushtaq.

run and play like a youngster.”

UCT Sharjah defeated Sealine Tuskers by 7 wickets in the tournament organised by Sharjah Cricket Council. Chasing a Tuskers’ challenging 192 to win, UCT won through Rana’s unbeaten 115 runs from just 54 balls with 12 boundaries and four sixes.

Akbar trains UCT regularly behind Sharjah Cricket Stadium and even takes the team on tour. “I am on the field all the time and I am also a qualified umpire. I joined for the umpiring course. I usually take my trainees abroad and soon will flying out to South Africa.”