Etihad are no strangers to the sport with their team often playing in top domestic tournaments in Abu Dhabi on weekends.
And having faced teams in Bangkok/Phuket and Bahrain in previous years, team manager Mohammed Zaheer thought it would be ideal to test themselves against British Airways.
“I was looking for an international tour either to England or to Australia,” he said. “I contacted British Airways and they agreed to host us.
“We were happy because for many of us this was the first time we were going to play on English conditions and England is a nation who certainly love cricket.”
With Etihad Sports and Social Committee supporting the entire nine-day tour from airline tickets to accommodation, their strong 15-man squad travelled to Middlesex in England in high spirits after training intensively for the three matches.
And their hard work paid off with emphatic seven-wicket and 79-run triumphs. A whitewash was denied with the third encounter washed off but nothing could be taken away from their performances.
Renish Abdul Qader was the standout bowler with six scalps in the two games, while Jawad Qazi (99no), Ahmed Nadeem and Samuel Charles all scored half-centuries.
“We can take a lot from this tour,” said Zaheer. “Besides the three games against British Airways, we also played against local amateur sides where we won two games. We travelled there purely focused on playing 40-over cricket because that is something we’re used in the UAE.
“In this country, T20 is very popular, while also play frequently on sand grounds. But in England, we were lucky to play at some fantastic grounds with great pavilions and facilities.
“As well as some great matches, it was a great tour for us as we got used to the English conditions, which wasn’t easy.”
Having claimed the bragging rights, Zaheer insists there are plans to host British Airways in the UAE within the next 18 months.
“When the weather gets cooler, we hope to bring them in October 2017,” he said. “But at the same time we’re also looking to explore new opportunites.”
“Hopefully, we can go to Australia and arrange a series there. This would not have been possible without the help of Etihad Sports and Social Committee.
“The tour has given us a wonderful opportunity for those who’ve been associated with the cricket for a long time. It was great to represent the company.”
