UAE cricketers will get contracts: Javed

The UAE cricket coach Aaqib Javed said that Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) was working on a system of contracts to make the team a professional outfit and also added that his dream was to see the country achieve Test status. Currently, all the players have regular jobs and they balance their cricket around that.

“We are planning for some system of contracts. Amateurs can reach to a level but if you want to go all the way, you have to be professionals. We are working on it. Soon, we will offer them a contract. We are planning a programme to support youngsters in the university. We will support them as far as studies are concerned. With all this success, a few have changed their minds, by looking for universities here,” Javed said on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony.

Javed and his team were honoured by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), at the Al Bateen Palace, late on Tuesday night. The UAE National cricket team had qualified for the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup to be held in Bangladesh in 2014 and also the ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. Javed, who took over as UAE coach on March 7, 2012, has overseen their qualification for both the World Cups.

Having got the job done, Javed said it was now time to take them to the next level and not remain stagnant. “Now, many Associate countries and ODI countries don’t progress further after one stage. My aim is not to keep them at one stage. I hope in the next three to four years, if we can progress, then we can go all the way aiming for Test status. That sounds ambitious but when I said we wanted to play three World Cups, that sounded even more ambitious. I’m a very optimistic person.

Apart from the T20 and the main World Cup, the UAE also qualified for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup by virtue of being hosts. Javed said that tougher times lie ahead. “Now, nothing will be easy in either World Cup, and as an ODI team, there will be tougher opposition. Now, the work will begin. It will be difficult but we have started working like professionals. We can go further.

About the UAE qualifying for both the World Cups and the felicitation by Shaikh Nahyan, he said: “It is a big thing for UAE cricket. They gave such a good performance and it has been recognised. It is a big achievement and I think it could create some interest for locals. The team feels honoured and they will try even harder now for the big events.”

Meanwhile, captain Khurram Khan said they were a bit nervous as it was the first time that the team was invited by Shaikh Nahyan.

“It was the first time. So, I was bit nervous. But it is good that the team is getting recognition. It is a wonderful thing and the Emiratis are getting involved as well. I think more of this should happen,” said Khurram Khan.

Khurram too echoed Javed words when he said it will become tougher now. ‘It is difficult, and now it will get more difficult because we will play against professional sides. We have to move towards professionalism,” he said.

james@khaleejtimes.com