ECB to host ACC U-16 Western Region show

dubai — Emirates Cricket Board has been officially announced as host for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-16 (U16) Western Region tournament.

Matches will commence on Sunday and will continue through to Friday and will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Ajman’s Eden Garden (UAE).

A total of six teams: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Oman, Bahrain, and hosts UAE, will vie for the title of ACC Western Region U16 champions.

The tournament has been designed in an effort to grow cricket across emerging nations by giving them opportunities to play at world-class facilities, under ACC’s governance, as well as prepare them to challenge top-performing teams in larger tournaments in the future.

ACC’s development pathway boasts many success stories, most recently the brilliant rise of Afghanistan, and one that the UAE aims to replicate across all its age and gender divisions.

Zayed Abbas, Emirates Cricket Board member and spokesperson, said: “UAE is an active union within the ACC, as well as a very involved member on the Development Committee, so we are very committed to the growth of the game across all age levels. Our close proximity to the competing nations, combined with UAE’s outstanding infrastructure and world-renowned cricket stadia, and practice facilities, has been acknowledge by the ACC with UAE being awarded as the tournament host.”

“Tournaments such as the ACC U16 series provide a strong springboard for our youth to grow and develop in their cricketing careers, as well as provide each union with the opportunity to fine-tune and hone the skillset of their respective future representatives.”