RETAINING ONE-DAY TO SPORT’S GROWTH

This result goes further than just retaining funding, maintaining the status quo, keeping their jobs ... Now UAE cricket can build

mately a month ago, as the national team dodged showers in Namibia in international cricket’s third tier, seemed anything but. Then it seemed like, well, maybe there is still a chance. Then the confirmation that they can, in fact, carry on planning. What a relief.

The past 18 months have been transformative for the sport in the Emirates. Increased ICC funding has enabled the Emirates Cricket Board to employ professional players.

No longer are they beholden to cricket-loving employers to recruit skilled players to their corporations, then hope they give them enough time off to play and train.

When the UAE went to the World Cup in 2015, around two-thirds of their players were given paid leave.

The other six were not. That meant the ECB had to cover the wages of the accounts clerks, sales reps and receptionists while they were away from their desks for two months playing in cricket’s showpiece tournament. Even that was a strain on the budget.

That was only three years ago, but it feels like a different age. It shows just how far the extra financing has reached since that they are now in position to have full-time paid players.

Continued financing means more investment can be made in professionalism. Maybe the domestic game can be given a long-awaited, long-required overhaul. An often-touted national academy might become feasible.

It goes without saying, the board still crave independent corporate investment.

There must be a way to better harness the passion of the owners of companies such as Danube, Mulk Holdings and others to better service the needs of the national team.

The UAE team is just the tip of the spear, but thanks to their feats in Zimbabwe, the entire domestic game in the country will benefit. They deserve to be celebrated.