Humaira Tasneem added another feather to her well-decorated cap when she won lady cricketer of the year at the annual Shyam Bhatia awards.
A regular member of the UAE team since 2008, she has played 25 matches and taken 22 wickets at an average of 16.31. Her best display of five for 18 came against a formidable Hong Kong side during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) women’s champonship in 2013.
Humaira, 18, who has led the UAE team in the ACC under-19 tournament in the past said: “I make it a point to practice every day and my aim is to establish women’s cricket here and represent the UAE well.
“This award is a huge boost and will push me to work harder.”
Outstanding players and umpires nominated by every cricket council in the UAE were rewarded with cash prizes in senior and junior divisions.
Local cricket promoter Shyam Bhatia has put on the ceremony for the past 13 years and it remains the only event to honour cricketing excellence in the UAE.
In all, he has honoured players with cash awards totalling Dh214,000, and ensures the prizes are handed by a cricket legend. This time it was former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas.
Zaheer Ul Haq (Abu Dhabi), Syed Zargham (Ajman), Tariq Butt (Dubai), Naveed Ismail (Sharjah) were adjudged best umpires by the respective councils while a special award went to to Akbar Ali, who has officiated 191 matches this season.
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
Division I
Best Player (Abu Dhabi Cricket Council): Mohammed Shafiq (Abu Dhabi Gymkhana).
Best Player (Dubai Cricket Council): Saqib Ali (Ibsons CC) who scored 395 runs and bagged 13 wickets in the Blenheim Champions Trophy .
Best Player (Sharjah Cricket Council): Mohammad Azam (Eurocon Alubond)
Division II
Best Player (Ajman Cricket Council): Nasir Aziz (Eurocon Alubond)
Best Player (Abu Dhabi Cricket Council): Amjad Ali (United Bank Limited)
Best Player (Dubai Cricket Council): Swapnil Patil (Yogi Group)
Best Player (Sharjah Cricket Council): Abdul Shakoor (Afridi CC)
Junior category
Best Junior Cricketer (Inter-school U-15 from Abu Dhabi CC): Justin D’Souza
Best Junior Cricketer (Inter-school U-16 from Dubai CC): Shorye Chopra
Best Junior Cricketer (Inter-school U-16 from Sharjah CC): Salah Shakeel
Best lady cricketer
Humaira Tasneem
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