IPL 7 opens doors for UAE talent

Sport360 staff 15:41 03/05/2014
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  • Best in the business: The IPL's presence in the UAE has helped the local talent.

    The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) proved to be a force for good for the UAE cricket scene with the teams using the services of local cricketers and coaches to assist players in preparing for matches across the UAE.

    The first stage of this year’s IPL was held in the UAE due to the ongoing Indian elections, and teams in the UAE were the first to reap the benefits, with some of the biggest local talents practicing alongside several IPL teams.

    Among those were Khawer Saeed and Abdul Arshad, two fast bowlers who play for ANIB XI On Top cricket team, who impressed with their all-round batting and bowling displays.

    Both Saeed and Arshad are trained with both defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

    In the past 12 matches that he played in the local cricket scene, Saeed has taken 22 wickets with an economy rate of 6.23 runs per over. He's also claimed four-wicket hauls on three occasions, making him one of the deadliest fast-bowlers in the region.

    Meanwhile, Arshad has taken 15 wickets in five matches with an economy of 6.95 runs per over, while also being judged as the best new talent by ANIB & Porsche.

    Daniel Jason, ANIB's Vice President (Brand & Media), believes the IPL7 has been an important learning opportunity for young UAE-based players to experience the pressure and intricacies of a high-stakes game.

    “I am pleased to say that many young people from this region have impressed IPL officials with their batting and bowling prowess,” Jason said. “Both Saeed and Arshad had the opportunity of a lifetime to rub shoulders with international cricket stars and have been praised for their talents by cricketing greats such as Michael Hussey, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Alan Donald.”

    During the IPL practice sessions, Saeed and Arshad put the batsmen of Mumbai and Bangalore through their paces at different pitches in the UAE.

    “Our brief was simple – we had to expose the batsmen to all kinds of pace bowling attacks, from tricky slow balls to swinging deliveries,” said Saeed. “When batsmen regularly play with their own team mates, they tend to become complacent and let their guard down.

    "Our presence at the practice sessions made them more alert to expect all kinds of bowling variations.”

    Arshad believes that the interactions with the IPL teams allowed local players to share and learn important bowling tips.

    “The IPL tournament takes the UAE cricket scene to an altogether new level. It has made me more confident of playing in higher profile matches, while leaving my own distinctive impression on the cricketing officials. The tournament definitely is a game- changer for UAE cricket.”

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