Umm Al Quwain: Umm Al Quwain Cricket Association which hosted 25 tournaments during the 2012-2014 season honoured the winners of their tournaments and top performers at a colourful ceremony at the Pearl Hotel here. It was an exhibition of this association’s contribution towards the promotion of cricket as over 300 cricketers and officials gathered for the function.
Umm Al Quwain Cricket Association’s tournaments which are getting popular every year have been throwing up new teams and even fresh star performers.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mushtaq Ahmad, the secretary of the Umm Al Quwain Association said: “We are delighted over all the teams’ enthusiasm to play in our tournaments. Every year we are able to increase the number of tournaments mainly due to the response from the teams from all over UAE.”
All the tournaments were held under the supervision of the Emirates Cricket Board and played under the auspices of the Ajman Cricket Council and Domestic Cricket Development Committee.
Umm Al Quwain Association tournament has also become an event for teams participating for the first time in a tournament.
“We see fresh teams every year and what thrills us is that some teams have even gone on to win tournaments. Spiders Club and Brother Gas teams are newcomers who have gone on to win tournaments,” said Ahmad, who has a devoted committee made up of Nasser Mohammad Sultan Al Shamsi as president and Mohammad Ebrahim Al Hamar, Hussain Taleb Al Ahamer, Abdullah and Ali Taleb as members.
“Golden Tower and Car Fare has been outstanding performers winning some tournaments and also finishing runner up.
“In fact some of the teams like Golden Tower and Al Futtaim has been sponsoring our tournaments too and playing in them. Our tournaments are supported by participating teams and we also charge only nominal entry fees for tournaments,” added Ahmad.
Now UAE’s top teams which are playing in A division tournaments are also playing in Umm Al Quwain tournaments. Nucaf Tellicherry, Phoenix Medicines Yogi Group and Alubond Tigers are a few.
“Teams that are making a mark in UAE cricket like Multiplex and Fanatics Club are also playing here regularly. We are thankful to Umm Al Quwain government and Umm Al Quwain Municipality for the support for our tournaments. Unless they would have provided us the space and supported us we could not have staged so many tournaments,” added Ahmad.
“With still seven tournaments left for the 2013-14 seasons be finished which will be completed soon, we will begin our next season in the second week of September. We will continue to maintain top standard and provide best of facilities for the players,” assured Ahmad.
