Dubai Mammoths set for England tour

Denzil Pinto 21:13 24/05/2017
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  • A group of Dubai-based cricketers aged over 40 will test themselves in English conditions when they embark on their UK tour next month.

    Having played two competitive tournaments – Big Forty’s and Pink Ball Forty’s, both organised by Dubai Cricket Council – Dubai Mammoths are set for their biggest and most exciting test yet, with  five one-day matches lined up between June 3-11.

    Before a ball is even bowled, the   15-man squad will also be among the lucky 25,000 fans at Edgbaston as defending champions India begin their title defence against fierce rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy on June 4.

    While that match will go down as one of the highlights during their week-long trip, Dubai Mammoths are again relishing the opportunity of taking wickets and scoring runs “in a place like heaven” for the fifth consecutive year.

    “We are all excited for this tour and although it’s getting nearer, time seems to be passing slower,” said Shiva Pagarani, co-organiser of the tour.

    “This will be the fifth time that we will be returning to England for this annual tour and it’s something we are really looking forward to because playing in England is really like playing in heaven.

    “We’ll be going there in the English summer, so it’ll be quite different for us because we’ll be arriving from the UAE where it’s really hot. But it’s a dream for any cricketer to play in England.”

    Hinckley Town,  Worcester Fossils, Surrey County, Ketton Cricket Club and City Cricket Academy 40s will provide the opposition for Mammoths with captaincy duties being split between Rajesh Thadani, Navin Punjab and Sujit Salian over the five games.

    “We have given the captaincy to different people over the tour to give them experience of leading a side in an overseas match,” added bowling all-rounder Pagarani, who is the owner of Yogi Group.

    “We are all over the age of 40 and businessmen ourselves so playing cricket outside office hours is a great stress-buster for us.

    “We will give it our best shot and we’ve fared quite well against English opposition in the previous years. We hope it’s the same again next month.”

    Following their tour to Europe, Mammoths and Sindhi Cricket Club will travel to Mumbai and Pune in November, while a trip to Kenya is scheduled early next year.

    “We’ll be going to Kenya in February 2018 for the first time where we’ll be playing three one-day matches.

    “It will be another opportunity to enhance our knowledge and play in a country that we have not played in before.”

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