Cricketers hoping to make the UAE Under-19 squad this year have welcomed the introduction of central contracts by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and insist it will drive them on in representing the senior side in the future.
For the first time in their history, ECB announced 12 players on their central contracts roster on Wednesday.
Batsmen Mohammed Qasim, Mohammed Usman, Rameez Shahzad, Ghulam Shabbir, spinners Imran Haider, Qader Ahmed, all-rounders Rohan Mustafa and Mohammed Shahzad have been handed two-year full-time deals.
Captain and all-rounder Amjad Javed, fast-bowler Mohammed Naveed, batsman Shaiman Anwar and spinner Ahmed Raza are on one-year part-time contracts.
The news is significant to the stars of tomorrow.
During his tenure, former coach Aaqib Javed had to look elsewhere rather than promote his Under-19 players with a majority leaving for further studies.
But Waleed Bukhatir, ECB member and chief selector believes the central contracts can be a solution to that problem.
“The youngsters can now realise that cricket is now a career,” he said. “They will know having a central contract means they can have a future.
“Today, they can realise after school, they can play professional cricket because once they’ve finished studying, they can have the option whether they want to continue playing cricket or go elsewhere.”
Waruna Perera has already rep- resented the UAE at Under-19 level, captaining the team in last season’s Asian Cricket Council’s Premier League in Malaysia. The 19-year-old has yet to force his way into the senior set-up but insists the latest developments will only help him further in achieving his dream.
“It’s very encouraging news and it gives players like me and the others that it is possible that we can now play professionally for the UAE national team one day,” he said.
“I never really thought of leaving the UAE but it will allow other juniors to stay and play for the team after they finish studying.”
Moiz Qazi, who is hoping to be be among the final-15 squad for the 2018 World Cup pre-qualifiers in Malaysia in September, admits he considered leaving the UAE but is now willing to extend his stay.
8 UAE players awarded central contracts. A lot of credit goes to former coach Aqib Javed for helping the team secure ODI status
— Razia Desai (@raziiia) July 21, 2016
“Yes, if the contracts are right and if it’s going to do well for my cricket and my education, I wouldn’t mind playing for the UAE,” said the 18-year-old.
“I was born and raised here so my heart is in the UAE.
“I had thought about leaving the UAE within the last year because there wasn’t enough support. But now with the contracts introduced, it can provide a better future for the youngsters, who want to go and play for the national team.”
At just 14, Aryan Lakra is the youngest in the training camp and insists the news only makes him hungrier for making the senior team in the future.
“I would rather stay in the UAE than go somewhere else to play the game,” said the all-rounder.
“With this happening now, the deals will only develop and I think many more will want to stay on.”
