When Covid disrupted UAE’s one-day international series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last month, it had the indirect effect of depriving Adithya Shetty a slice of history.
Had the series followed its initial schedule, and comprised four matches rather than the revised two, the schoolboy leg-spinner would almost certainly have debuted.
Had he done so, he would have become the youngest player ever to feature in international cricket for the UAE, breaking Yodhin Punja’s record of 16 years and 206 days.
As it was, the series was truncated when four UAE players returned positive Covid results, and Shetty will now be forced to wait.
It is unclear when the UAE will play next. What does seem certain, though, as the 16-year-old whizkid will remain part of their plans for the foreseeable future. Robin Singh, the UAE coach, has hinted as much.
“We have incorporated a lot of young cricketers in the set up, but I have made it a point that they have to perform,” Singh said recently. “They can’t be coming into the side just because they are young.
“We have a 16-year old [Shetty] who has been in our national side, and he almost played against Ireland. I’m pretty sure these guys will play in the near future if they keep performing.”
Shetty’s performance in taking three wickets in a practice match against Ireland won him plenty of admirers among the senior players in the national team. The India-born teen is grateful for the way he was accepted into the fold.
“They say sport has no age, and the coach of the UAE team [Singh] keeps telling us this,” Shetty said.
“If you are with the men’s team, you will be treated like a men’s player, irrespective of how old you are or how young you are.
“I was welcomed nicely by the senior players. At first I didn’t speak to them a lot, I spent more time with the younger players, but as I spent more time with them everyone was really welcoming.
“It was nice to be with a group of guys who care about you and are happy when you do well as well.”
Since his first taste of the senior national team set up, Shetty has thrived in domestic cricket, too.
He has had a string of fine performances in the Bukhatir League, following on from some excellence in ICC Academy’s title win in the UAE Academies league.
His ascent in the game has been sharp since he was one of the first inductees into the ICC Academy’s scholarship programme back in 2017.
Qasim Ali, who has overseen Shetty’s development since he hand-picked him for the scholarship programme four years ago, predicted a “bright future” for a formerly “podgy kid”.
“He has a consistency in his bowling that is impressive for a young lad,” Qasim, the academy’s head coach, said.
“The fact he is determined to work on his skills outside of coaching hours shows he has the drive to succeed. He is quite relentless as a character.
“He is also focused on his fitness, which is good as he was a podgy kid when he first started with us.
“The programme we put together with the scholarship enabled him to get fitter and stronger. We have given the opportunity to play on good grounds and train relentlessly.
“We have opened this area up for free training to all our scholars. Without that they wouldn’t get the opportunity to practice their skills, and that is what the scholarship programme is about.”
Shetty acknowledged his attitude to fitness has improved over the recent past – which is handy, given that what he first found most appealing about bowling leg-spin was the lacking of running required to do it.
“My school coach at [Delhi Private School, where he first learnt the game] changed me into a leg-spinner,” Shetty said.
“Like everyone, I was initially a batsman and fast bowler, but my school coach said pace bowling wasn’t for me as I was quite short at that time.
“I was happy with that as it meant there wasn’t a lot of running to do. You just walk in from two steps and then bowl.
“As time went on, I started bowling leg-spin, and as time went along it became something that was becoming a career for me.
“I have worked on my fitness. Everyone knows now in cricket you need to be fit to play.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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GAC GS8 Specs
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Read more from Kareem Shaheen
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Mobile phone packages comparison
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Company%20profile
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RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
SPECS
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UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
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