Latest developments in UAE

The United Arab Emirates national team 'may' tour India in June/July, according to Emirates Cricket Board secretary Mr Mazhar Khan. Meanwhile, the UAE's most prestigious domestic competition, the Bukhatir Cricket League, commenced in the second week of February. The Sharjah-based 12 team 50 over floodlit competition, celebrating its Silver Jubilee, will continue until the final on May 7. Each team is permitted one overseas player.

The groups are:
Group A - Union National Bank, Malik News Agency, Air India, Al Kabeer
Group B - New Medical Centre, Emirates Cricket Board, Lanka Lions, Al Ain Cricket Association
Group C - Emirates, Expats, Mashreq Bank, Emirates Bank International

In one of the opening matches this week, defending champion, United National Bank, swept aside Air India by five wickets. Struggling at 98-5 in reply to Air India's 163-7 (50 overs completed), Man-of-the-Match, Mohammad Afzal (53 n.o. off 77 balls) and Bilal Khan (35 off 34) steered UNB home. Air India 163-7 (50ov.) (Mohammed Hyder 21, Piyush Maloo 37, Abbas Ali Khan 28 n.o.; Ali Asad Abbas 23-3) lost to United National Bank 165-5 (39ov.) (Zubair Nadeem 33, Mohammad Afzal 53n.o., Bilal Khan 35; Sachin 21-2). by five wickets.