ABU DHABI // David East, the chief executive officer of Emirates Cricket Board, says grassroots cricket in the country is growing after a record 34 teams entered the UAE Exchange Centre Abu Dhabi inter-school tournament.
The sixth staging of the tournament, organised by the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council in association with the Emirates Cricket Board, will be played at the ADCC Nursery Ovals from the first week of November.
It will be played in four different age categories – Under 19, U16, U14, and for the first time, U12.
“It is crucial we provide the platform underneath the national team to ensure we’ve got a continue flow of cricketers coming to the national teams, and school cricket is the way forward,” East said.
“And without tournaments such as this, which embrace the passion for cricket in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE, it will be impossible for us to make this progress.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming response from the schools and looking forward to some exciting games as well as some good talents to emerge from this tournament.”
The Cambridge High School have won the U19 title three years in a row and are firm favourites with four UAE U19 players, Mohammed Riyan, Moiz Qazi, Sachin Jha and, Yodhin Punja, in the squad.
Merryland International won both the U16 and U14 titles last season and will be hoping for a repeat in the two age groups.
apassela@thenational.ae
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