Enthusiasm and perseverance to attain an objective do not fail. The Emirates Cricket Board Team in their debut has proved this by winning the ICC Trophy in early 1994.

A visitor to the country in the seventies and the eighties could not envisage that cricket would develop at such a rapid pace and the team from UAE would win the ICC trophy in the ICC Associates Trophy Tournament played among twenty teams and play in the World Cup in 1996.

The visitor had seen cement, steel, heavy equipment and construction boom in the country. He also observed men in their cricket gear leveling the sand, spreading the matting and playing cricket.

These enthusiasts with their supporters made grounds, teams and played the game year after year and at last the happy moment came in 1989, the year in which the Emirates Cricket Board was established by the government.

Prior to the establishment of the Board, sponsored tournaments were played and the cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) has from the early eighties been conducting international matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is the apex body for cricket. The Board has formed five regional cricket councils to organize and develop the game in the country. These councils have been effective in the development of the game. The cricket season starts in October with the Dubai Cricket Council's 'Sony Cup" followed by the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council's 'New Medical Centre Cup' followed by The Sharjah Cricket Council's Bukhatir Panasonic Gold Cup'. In all the three, 50 overs limited tournaments are played by fourteen 'A' Division teams and the last match of the third tournament is usually played in May the following year.

Cricket in the UAE is not confined to the 'A' Division teams; we have over seventy 'B' Division teams. The councils organise 40 overs and 25 overs limited sponsored tournaments and the different tournaments, and the different tournaments continue upto June in the next year.

The primary tournament of the UAE cricket is the 'Emirates Bank International' Four Nation Trophy. The tournament is played between the team of Emirates - India, Emirates - Pakistan, Emirates - Sri Lanka and Emirates - Rest Eleven. The best local players represent their respective national teams. Floodlit cricket in the UAE! Yes, for the past five years, the 'Autolease Rent A Car' sponsored tournament is very popular among the local teams as well as the teams from abroad. Many a test cricketer have played in this tournament of which the rules allow two outside players for the local team. Foreign teams from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and India regularly participate. On demand and from the 'B' Division teams, the Sharjah Cricket Council took the lead in organizing 'Floodlit' tournament in 1993, which has now become a permanent feature of the UAE cricket season. To encourage school students, the Sharjah Cricket Council has been from the date of its formation, organising the UAE Inter-School Tournament. One can only see to believe the tremendous crowd of students and teachers in every match. The Board has appointed a coach to train the school students.

The reputation of cricket played in the UAE has spread far and wide. The carriers of this reputation are none other than the local teams who have been touring the cricket playing countries and the pioneer is the Air India Cricket Club. The reputation of good cricket and hospitality has attracted first class teams to visit and play with the local teams. The Emirates Cricket Board and the regional councils continue to strive to improve the standard of cricket including that of the umpires. A training course was conducted by a test umpire for the local umpires and in the near future a similar training course shall be conducted followed by an examination of the Association of Umpires and Scorers. Any game including cricket needs financial support. We in the UAE are fortunate to have many lovers of the game who have always supported the efforts of the local teams and the organisers. The local press has been very encouraging to the game; their coverage of local cricket goes a long way in building confidence and enthusiasm with the players, organisers and sponsors.

Cricket in the UAE has taken roots to flourish with the encouragement of winning the prestigious ICC trophy.