Abu Dhabi cricketers' Kenya trip called off after Simba Premier League is postponed

Tournament, scheduled for September 10 to 19, delayed due to travel restrictions

Abu Dhabi Pro Bash event director Shadab Ahamed is the player-manager and coordinator of the Abu Dhabi cricketers heading out for the Simba Premier League in Kenya. Antonie Robertson / The National

Cricketers in Abu Dhabi had to cancel their travel to Kenya after the Simba Premier League (SPL) was postponed following a new travel restriction imposed by the government of the African nation.

The franchise league, made up of six teams, was scheduled to take place at the Ruaraka Sports Club grounds in Nairobi from September 10 to 19.

The franchises had drafted 15 players from Pro Bash, Abu Dhabi’s first domestic franchise tournament, in five of the six teams. They were provided an all-expenses paid trip and the opportunity to play in a top-flight tournament abroad for the first time.

"It was very unfortunate after all the preparations we had to go through in the past two weeks," Shadab Ahamed, player-manager and coordinator of Abu Dhabi cricketers told The National.

“But again, it was because of the prevailing global situation and all of us understand, even though we are disappointed that the tournament had to be postponed in the last moment.

“However, we are more than hopeful we can still go and play in the SPL once a new date is finalised. The players were excited and looking forward to play in this tournament.”

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13 UAE cricketers who could be great cover options at IPL 2020

Zahoor Khan. The fast bowler was one of just three players on the IPL auction list from beyond the Test world. He went unsold, but has a box of tricks that suits death bowling in the short format. At the Abu Dhabi T10, he bowled 10 dot balls in a spell to Mumbai Indians stalwart Lendl Simmons. Pawan Singh / The National

Ahmed Raza. The left-arm spinner is the eighth most economical bowler in the history of T20 international cricket, among bowlers who have sent down more than 500 deliveries. At the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in 2016, he went for three matches in a row without conceding a boundary. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sultan Ahmed. Even more thrifty than his fellow left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza – albeit in a slightly smaller pool of matches so far. He has an economy rate of just 5.91 in 22 T20 internationals to date, and he excelled at the Abu Dhabi T10 for Qalandars. Pawan Singh / The National

Chirag Suri. The only UAE player with IPL experience. He was part of the Gujarat Lions squad in 2017. He only made it onto the field once, as a fielding substitute, but was promptly ordered off as Gujarat already had their quota of overseas players on. He is a far better player now than he was then. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Vriitya Aravind. The 18-year-old wicketkeeper has been in blistering form since cricket returned after lockdown, razing bowlers who are years his senior in the Emirates D10. He would be an exciting option if any franchises suddenly found themselves short of a gloveman. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rohan Mustafa. Termed a gun player by his captain Moeen Ali after he opened the bowling with his off-breaks for Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 last year. His closest shot at another big league came when he was discussed as a possible late replacement player after Quetta’s overseas contingent pulled out of the PSL final in 2017, but it did not come to pass. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rameez Shahzad. Averages 53.15 in one-day international cricket and is the only UAE cricketer to have two centuries to his name in that format, which includes one against the West Indies in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Shiraz Ahmed. The left-arm pace bowler has yet to play for the UAE national team, but already has plenty of admirers in the IPL. He was a key part of the Maratha Arabians side which won the T10, in an attack that included IPL greats Lasith Malinga and Dwayne Bravo. Pawan Singh / The National

Mohammed Usman. One of the most reliable batsmen in the UAE side, the left-hander played arguably the country’s best T20 innings when he made an unbeaten 89 against Canada for the beleaguered national team during the T20 World Cup Qualifier last year. Ruel Pableo for The National

Basil Hameed. Only debuted for the UAE team late last year, but has already become a fixture of the batting line up. The former Kerala Ranji Trophy probable is also one of the best fielders in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Karthik Meiyappan. Another of the young new recruits for the senior national team during a troubled recent past. The leg-spinner has control and maturity that belies the fact he is a mere 19-year-old university student. Satish Kumar for The National

Umair Ali Khan. The standout player of the first domestic tournament to take place since the restart of sport, with four man of the match awards so far. Three were for bowling, including four wickets in four balls in one match, while the other came for his 60 not out in 17 balls to win a match for Bukhatir XI. Pawan Singh / The National

Kai Smith. Only 15 years old, but played for the UAE at the Under 19 World Cup earlier this year and has won admirers while playing men’s cricket domestically, too. As with Aravind, if a franchise suffered a shortage of wicketkeepers, they could do worse than this schoolboy. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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Also, 18 players from India had arrived in Dubai to travel with the group. Three Abu Dhabi-based cricketers were to fly out from Pakistan.

“We were informed four days ago by the organisers that the league may be postponed. We waited for their confirmation until Monday before going through the cancellations process of our travel,” Ahamed said.

According to a spokesman for the SPL, the league is postponed due to the strict government measures and the logistical challenges related to international travel.

“We have rescheduled the tournament to a later date,” he added.

Ahamed was drafted for Ganga Fighters led by Kenya international Morris Ouma and include marquee signing Asadullah Khan Pathan, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman.

Former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu along with former IPL players Shadab Jakati, Paul Valthaty, Manpreet Singh Gony and Siddhartha Trivedi are the other marquee signings in the franchises.

Jimmy Kamande is captain of Hirani Heros while Kenya captain Shem Ngoche (Rudra Warriors), Rushab Patel (Texas Titans), Elijah Otieno (Dezo Devils) and Nelson Odhiambo (Glory Hotels) lead the other franchises.

The franchise league is organised by Mombasa Simba Cricket Academy run by former Kenyan internationals Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Kamande and Tom Mboya.