Dubai: From the day C.P. Rizwan of Kerala arrived in the UAE in 2014, the all-rounder set himself a goal to play for the UAE in international cricket. Having completed four years to be eligible for selection to the UAE national team last March, he has now staked a tall claim with seven top awards in UAE’s domestic tournaments and a raft of tall scores and bagful of wickets.
Rizwan has played a pivotal role in Bukhatir XI’s success. He not only won matches for them through his batting, especially through quick-fire knocks but also deadly spells. In the Junoon Cup, he bagged the Man of the Series and then went on to win the best bowler in the Dubai Cricket Council’s Gold Cup. In the Alliance Premier League, he was at his best sweeping the Man of the Series, best bowler, best economical bowler and fastest hundred awards.
In the two ongoing tournaments of the Sharjah Cricket Council, he is on course for the top awards as in the Al Dhaid 40-over tournament, he is the highest run-getter so far with 230 runs. In the Al Dhaid T20 bash, he has averaged 60 runs per match and hit an unbeaten 51 in the semi-final to put his team in the final. The finals of both these tournaments are yet to be held.
Speaking to Gulf News, Rizwan said: “I have given my best in whatever opportunities I’ve got to perform. I’ve been carrying the dream of representing the UAE for the last four years. I want to one day do well for UAE and be an important member of the team and help them win major ICC tournaments.”
Right now, Bukhatir XI is benefiting from his spirit to win matches. “I work hard in their practice arena and am thankful to Khalaf Bukhatir (team owner) for making sure I prepare well for every match. Our manager Radhakrishnan makes sure I get enough time from the office to play as I work as an engineer with Eastern International, owned by Abdul Rehman Bukhatir. I was the Man of the Series in the Bukhatir Group T20 tournament with 250 runs and 14 wickets,” said Rizwan, who has also played against visiting teams for the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Blues team. He hit an unbeaten 42 against the visiting Bermuda team and picked three wickets with his leg spin to ensure victories for the team.
Rizwan, who hails from Tellicherry in Kerala, had scored heavily in junior cricket and went on to play for Kerala. On a tour of South Africa, he cracked 70 runs against Cape Town for Kerala. He had also hit 54 for the state against All India Railways team before he took a break to complete his engineering course and then came to the UAE to take up a job.
“It’s a dream to play international cricket. I am grateful to cricketer-turned-coach CTK Mashood for guiding me here like a mentor. I made my debut in domestic cricket playing for Nucaf Tellicherry team and then Yogi Group. Be it any top tournament I have tried to win the match for the team. Playing for ANIB Kannur Royals I had won the Man of the Series award in the prestigious Kerala Cricket League.”
Last year in the Al Dhaid Gold Cup tournament, Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 130. In the Rashid Allen Premier League, he hit 61 runs and also bagged six wickets for 13 runs from his three overs.
