Bahrain CC reasserts itself as Bahraini domestic cricket's heavyweight (5 Dec 1999)

5 December 1999

Bahrain CC reasserts itself as Bahraini domestic cricket's heavyweight

Champions may occasionally be usurped, but never vanquished, and so is the case in the Bahrain Cricket Association where perennial champion Bahrain CC appears set to wash out the bad taste associated with losing last season's title to Young Boys.

At last report, Bahrain CC was unbeaten, looking the most professional of teams under the captaincy of Asghar Baiwa.

Meanwhile, Young Boys has fallen to Punjab CC, whom Bahrain recently comfortably swept aside, and according to BCA official Guy Parker, it appears Bahrain's only conceivable rival for the title has been weakened by the loss of two key players.

Punjab is a fiercely committed team and that alone means it should come third.

The league's newcomer, Bassali, promoted from the junior leagues, had won two matches, as of three weeks ago, while Cosmopolitans recorded its first ever league victory over Awali CC.

Awali is a team which when in the mood, can beat any side.

Of the other teams, the competition's family team, Godfathers, will make up the numbers, Sri Lanka could surprise with wins over the top teams, Indian CC is too reliant on two class batsmen and Pakistan is competitive but doesn't have the steel to challenge.

The season runs to May, played over 18 rounds (home and away). Matches are played every Friday over two 25 over innings.

There is intense rivalry between the top four or five teams, all of whom have one or several "professionals". The ongoing shortage of qualified umpires and reliance in many matches on "batsman umpires" causes friction. Last season saw an improvement in the general behaviour on the pitch marred by only a few unsavoury incidents. The contentious issue of eligibility may have now been settled by a change in the BCA bye-laws. In the past, teams have imported professionals at very short notice for important matches causing walk-offs, protests and disciplinary action (not always evenly handed out).

To avoid controversy, the Bahraini team for the Gulf Cup is likely to be a compromise effort with each club allocated a certain number of places regardless of merit.

Guy Parker, who provided the information above, reports on the DHL Awali Camels fifth annual tour to Yorkshire.

"The unique nature of the Camels touring party is its reflection of all that is good in cricket in Bahrain. The players come from every Test-playing nation AND have all played cricket at Awali in Bahrain. The party consists mainly of Awali CC members with a number (3 or 4) of guest players from the BCA league. After previous tours to Wales (twice), Dublin and North Yorkshire, the Camels decided to return to North Yorkshire. Such is the attraction of the Camels tour that two teams of Camels were able to play every day of the eight day tour.

The first team managed three wins to two defeats against strong local club teams.

The finest achievement was the victory over Studley CC in the first ever Camels two-day fixture played to minor counties rules. In a match that swung both ways several times, the Camels ran out victors by 49 runs with three overs to spare.

The second team, consisting of social/veteran players, won three and lost four but won many hearts with their on and off field charms.

There was media interest as HTV and BBC ran reports on the Camels tour with special focus on the red and white Arabic headgear worn by the tourists and playing shots of cricket in Bahrain (courtesy Bahrain TV) juxtaposed with the Camels playing at Ripon.

The Millennium tour will be back to South Wales starting July 22, 2000.