Waleed to head ECB's new 4-member selection panel

Professionalism the key as UAE eye more cricketing success

dubai - Emirates Cricket Board on Sunday announced the panel of selectors who will be steering the selection process for the next generation of UAE cricket.
Waleed Bukhatir has been appointed as chief selector, with Zayed Abbas, Mohammad Tauqir and Khurram Khan named as national selectors. All of them will work closely with UAE Cricket's head coach Aqib Javed.
This step is the first in Emirates Cricket's intent to build a full-time professional system, bolstered by full-time professional staff. The small, focused group, led by Bukhatir, will liaise closely with local cricket councils and will be keeping a keen eye on all cricket activities, including tournaments and academies (played and conducted under the auspice of Emirates Cricket) for talent that will be necessary in lifting the national team to a more competitive level. Having played the game for over a decade, both Tauqir and Khan have solid insight into the game - how it is played and administered in the UAE, as well as at both Associate and International levels.
Abbas acted as UAE Cricket's attache during the UAE's 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand. He sits on the ECB and oversees UAE Cricket's Marketing.
Tauqir, a UAE National, made his List A debut in 2004 against Canada (in Dubai) on February 29, and his ODI debut against India (at Dambulla) on July 16 of the same year. Tauqir has played in 11 ODIs and captained the UAE team at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, where, although the team did not progress past the pool stage, left an impressionable stamp on the hearts and minds of a cricket-loving audience. Khan's illustrious career started in 2001 at the ICC Trophy (2003 Cricket World Cup qualification) tournament. He made his List A debut in 2004 against Canada, in Dubai, on February 29, with his ODI debut made against India, at Dambulla, on July 16 also in 2004 alongside Tauqir. In November 2014, aged 43 years and 162 days, he became the oldest player to score an ODI hundred with his 132 not out against Afghanistan. Khan has been selected to play in the 2016 Masters Cricket League (MCL) and was awarded ICC's Associate Player of the Year 2015.
Bukhatir currently holds the position of vice chairman of Sharjah Cricket Council and sits on the board of ECB. He is Chairman of Al Dhaid Cricket Village as well as of the ECB Domestic Cricket Development Committee. Bukhatir succeeds Mohammed Reda Abbas as chief selector following the latter' retirement from ECB.