UAE captain encouraged by Emirati interest

Barnaby Read 22:57 20/05/2015
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  • The industrious Mohammad Tauqir continues to push the standards of cricket in UAE.

    The UAE national cricket team has long relied on expats from more established cricketing countries such as Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to fill its quota on the field.

    With a reported 87% expat population in the UAE and a reluctance of Emiratis to play a sport associated with the poorer migrant population of the country, engaging locals both young and old has proved a constant battle.

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     It is one that the Emirates Cricket Board works tirelessly to combat but it has been frustratingly slow progress.

    Mohammad Tauqir was reintegrated to the team as captain for the UAE’s second World Cup in its history in New Zealand and Australia earlier this year, replacing long-time skipper, Pakistan-born Khurram Khan.

    It was a case of history repeating itself after Emirati Sultan Zarawani led his country out in their first foray on the international scene back in 1996.

    In that tournament Zarawani and his men were most remembered for their skipper’s confrontation with Alan Donald and despite the added attention and the country’s only major competitive win over the Netherlands, cricket still struggled to grasp the attention of the locals.

    This time around, Tauqir’s side failed to register a victory but their performances gained a great deal of respect from the cricketing world.

    More importantly, it thrust cricket into the consciousness of UAE nationals.

    Under the stewardship of Tauqir and with his obvious desire to take the game to his compatriots, the future is certainly brighter.

    Tauqir believes this, and the subsequent interest shown in the sport by his countrymen, is his side’s biggest achievement.

    “I’m getting a lot of recognition since we returned from the World Cup and have noticed a lot of youngsters have taken up the game and our participation has inspired many more Emiratis who are following the game,” Tauqir told Sport360.

    “I’ve been contacted by many young Emiratis who have shown an interest in the game. I think it was a successful story and a lot of people have followed us in the World Cup and have taken up the game.”

    Mohammad Tauqir leads by example in a burgeoning UAE team.

    While an all-Emirati side is some way off, it is a future that both the ECB and Tauqir hope will eventually become a reality.

    The introduction of central contracts and turning star players professional will certainly aid that interest with young hopefuls taking up the sport knowing that a career can be made from cricket in the UAE.

    “I think a full-fledged XI of Emiratis making up a UAE national team would be great,” added Tauqir. “I know it’s still some time away but one day, Inshallah, we will have eleven Emiratis.”

    With the presence of Sharjah-born Pakistani-national Ahmed Raza already in the set up and young Emirati Ahmed Jasim playing alongside UAE internationals, there is an evident improvement in terms of local representation, albeit a small one.

    The introduction of the Tauqir-led United Real Group Emirati Warriors in April’s Superstars T20 tournament was another groundbreaking step for Emirati cricket.

    Under the stewardship of Tauqir and with his obvious desire to take the game to his compatriots, the future is certainly brighter.

    For now, however, the national side are grateful for the ICC’s decision in February to allow residents who have been in the UAE for a minimum of four years to represent the country.

    It allows the team to continue at the highest level while developing its own talent.

    Who knows, with the introduction of cricket to locals at an early age, Tauqir’s distant dream may some sooner than he thinks.

    Inshallah… 

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