SHARJAH // The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has set out the criteria for the new national team coach as it continues to search for a man to replace Colin Wells.
On Wednesday, Wells, the former England all-rounder, announced he was leaving his national team role, which he started in January 2009, following a lucrative offer to coach at the British School Al Khubairat.
The ECB is aiming to find someone who can build on the foundations he laid.
"We are eyeing the World Cup [in 2015] and there will be a replacement soon," said Waleed Bukhatir, Sharjah Cricket Council (SCC) chairman and ECB board member. "Colin Wells has played a huge role in the team's recent development. We are looking for someone who can take the team to the next level and who will improve on Colin's work during forthcoming qualifiers."
Nassar Akram, former general secretary of the ECB and now an executive member of the SCC, added that the board expect to find a replacement within the coming weeks.
"The candidate will need to meet the board's expectations and be ready to fulfil our future tournament commitments," he said.
"We've always had good coaches and our selections have proven to be quite fruitful. I'm sure we'll find a replacement soon and that they will be a nice fit for our team."
Speaking from yesterday's launch of the 23rd annual Sharjah Ramadan Cup, a limited-overs tournament running from August 9 to September 8 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the pair insisted no one at the ECB begrudges Wells's decision leave the job.
"There are always reasons for any kind of movement [between jobs], it is simply the nature of the game and of life, too," said Akram, who along with Bukhatir and several SCC officials conducted the draw for the 16-team, 25-over competition yesterday.
Perhaps the most intriguing match pulled out the hat will be between Group D rivals Eurocon Alubond, the defending champions, and Interface Transworld, the team representing the competition's headline sponsors.
"Our team concept is young and we have recruited two Indian spinners to freshen things up," said Nalin Khaitan, an Interface Transworld director who is also a member of the side's starting XI.
"We have Jagrit Anand, a Delhi Under 22 team player who was hand-picked by [former Australia coach] John Buchanan to play for IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders, and Puneet Mehra is joining us for the second time - he's been highlighted as one of India's best fielders and emerging all-rounders. We'll be OK in the group."
Organisers said that a tournament schedule, covering all 31 matches, will be released tomorrow.
emegson@thenational.ae
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
THE SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Notable Yas events in 2017/18
October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)
December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race
March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event
March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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Pathaan
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports