Australian outfits the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder enjoyed a three-day training camp that came to a conclusion with a friendly on Sunday ahead of the Big Bash League season in December.
The inaugural visit was organised by Sport Arabia Worldwide and after receiving rave reviews from the players and coaches, Roger Myall hopes it can be just the start of more teams touring the UAE.
“We’ve been very pleased with the overall tour and it went thoroughly well indeed,” he said.
“The girls have loved it even though it’s been a bit hot. They enjoyed training at the ICC Academy and playing at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
“Depending on their calendar and plans, we hope they can come back as we see this as a viable opportunity for their season preparations ahead.”
Sixers coach Ben Sawyer was open to the idea of returning. “Yes without a doubt,” he said. “The girls were saying if we could ever fit it in our schedule, it would be an unreal pre-season trip.”
During their visit, the Thunder and Sixers, who boast Australia’s Ellyse Perry and West Indian World Cup winner Stafanie Taylor, also trained with the UAE national team.
Go girls!! #UAE #Cricket @Sport360 @sportarabia @SixersWBBL @ThunderWBBL @ICCAcademy pic.twitter.com/3ea79ZvvcD
— UAE Cricket Official (@EmiratesCricket) June 6, 2016
Impressed by what they saw, UAE quartet Natasha Michael, Esha Oza, Chaya Mughal and Chaitrali Kalgutkar were chosen to play in the game in the capital.
Myall was delighted the girls were given a chance and insists they are keen to help the UAE, who have won the Gulf Cup twice in succession, to strive.
“The UAE women’s side is getting stronger year by year and they’ve made massive strides,” he said. “There were some English county women sides who had come here a long time ago but we’re keen to
revisit that idea.
“It’s still early and it’s just an idea but even if some of the counties bring their development sides here, it would be great for the UAE national team as they can train with them.”
All-rounder Michael felt she learned a lot from the match and training session and insists it’s vital that her team-mates experience more opportunities.
“It would be great for everyone if the Sydney sides or any other sides trained here,” said the 21-year-old. “We learned a lot in just three hours and if more teams came here and trained with us, we can improve and learn even more quickly.”
