Umar Shah grateful to represent the UAE at Indoor World Cup, 14 years after suffering knee injury

Denzil Pinto 08:14 14/09/2017
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  • More than a decade after seeing his dream of representing the UAE senior team dashed, Umar Shah is grateful to be given another chance at this week’s Indoor Cricket World Cup.

    Shah, 31, played for the outdoor national team at the Under-19 Asia Cup qualifiers in Pakistan way back in 2003 and soon set his sights on being part of the senior team one day.

    However, those hopes were over just 12 months later when he injured his knee while fielding during a domestic game in Dubai.

    That saw him ruled out for almost two years but having underwent rehabilitation, he got back into the game in 2006 – playing indoor cricket with Danube Tigers as well as the outdoor version with Fly Emirates.

    There was no recall to the national outdoor team since then but an opportunity came knocking when the UAE were awarded the rights to host the Indoor Cricket World Cup at Dubai’s InSportz Club.

    He beat more than 50 hopefuls to be selected in the 12-man squad and Shah wants to make the most of his opportunity, having admitted he never thought he would play for the UAE again after his knee injury.

    “It really has been an emotional journey for me,” said Shah. “To have suffered that knee injury was heartbreaking and it was very disappointing especially as I didn’t play the game for a long time.

    “It was a tough time for me and my family to be honest. I could only watch cricket and would’ve loved to have played but I just couldn’t because of the injury.”

    He added: “I had a feeling my chance of playing for the UAE was gone but I’m very grateful that InSportz Club and the Emriates Cricket Board has given me an opportunity to play for the UAE again.”

    While he still plays the outdoor game occasionally, he feels the indoor game has helped him enhance his all-round game.

    “This is something that I play regularly especially as you can play after work with your friends,” he said.

    “It’s fast-paced action which is good and I’m really happy to be part of the first UAE side to be playing in the Indoor Cricket World Cup. I’m really happy to wear the UAE colours again and hope we can do well.”

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