UAE's first women's side takes shape

In four weeks' time, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will hold their first women's tournament in Malaysia. While Malaysia will have both the home advantage and the benefit of fitness - as many of their players are in the Air Force - plans are also taking shape in the UAE.

Two former India players are on board to mould the first UAE women's team. Pramila Bhat Sarangan and Smitha Harikrishna have a hard task - women's cricket is a new sport to the country - so they are instilling such disciplines as practice at 6am and even just teaching the basics. "A flush of too much technique may be too much for them to handle," Sarangan told The Gulf News. "We will be working hard on their physical fitness."

Most of the team are from the subcontinent, mainly from South India. Sarangan would like to see more representation from South Africans and English ex-pats.

On a developmental level, she says: "If women's cricket is to become popular in UAE, the game should be promoted at the schools level. Clubs should also be formed and matches should be organised regularly."

In the meantime, the two players to look out for Natasha Michael, a batsman, and the fast bowler Charvi Bhatt. They will be taking part in the week-long ACC tournament, which comprises 25-over matches, starts on July 11.