Young cricketers are being given a chance to showcase their talents in a Twenty20 tournament starting today.
Twelve teams from schools throughout the country are taking part in the competition, which is organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council under the auspices of the Emirates Cricket Board, at Al Dhaid Village and the Sharjah cricket stadium.
The Under 16 inter-school event forms an integral part of the council's junior development programme, aimed at creating healthy playing opportunities for budding talent.
"The tournament offers an ideal springboard for the players to achieve bigger things, hopefully, a place in the future UAE teams," said Mazhar Khan, of the Sharjah Cricket Council.
"When it comes to talent, there is no dearth of it here in the UAE. All we need is to expose them to a good level of competition if we aim unearth quality players. Catch them young is the very intention behind organising this tournament."
There is no entry fee, and the players will be provided with playing shirts by the organisers during the event, which offers the youngsters a chance to hone their competitive edge on turf wickets.
The teams have been divided into three groups, each comprising four teams. Two matches will be played every day at each venue before the knock-out stage, when the action shifts to the Sharjah Stadium. The final is scheduled for June 2, starting at 12.30pm.
Trophies will be presented to the winners and the runners-up and there are prizes for the best batsman, best bowler and the player of the tournament. All members of the participating teams will also be given a certificate acknowledging their role in making the tournament a success.
* Agency
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
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- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
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