When the Australian T.V. Tycoon Kerry Packer recruited the best cricket talent from across the
globe and started one-day night matches in coloured clothing and kit; the cricket hierarchy at
Lords was shocked. "Unethical, cheap, against the spirit of the gentleman's game" - were the
remarks. Stringent actions were voiced by the cricket managements but could not be implemented,
as every test playing country needed its star cricketers. Kerri Packer disbanded his circus
after he brought the Australian management to its knees for the T.V. rights, he had demanded.
The whole exercise however left some indelible marks on the international scene. Remunerations
of test cricketers surged upwards, sponsorship of international and first class cricket events
and cricketers became common practice; and last and most important of all was the increase in
popularity of one-way internationals and night cricket. So match for the birth of this particular
exciting sport.
I started attending the night cricket matches at Sharjah Stadium from the Autolease H.H. Shaikh
Salim Bin Sultan Memorial Gold Cup in February 1993. Scheduled in the Holy month of Ramadhan,
it was an exciting pastime. The tournament was well organised and in addition to the best local
teams, one first class team each from Muscat, Saudi Arabia and India participated, while two teams
came from Pakistan.
I watched almost all the matches and became aware of the abundance of cricket talent in the
Emirates. The batting and bowling were of a high standard while the fielding left a lot to be.
desired. Umpiring was also not upto the mark - however you cannot blame the poor umpires.
The artificial lighting is capable of promoting misjudgments - The batsman fails to get in line
of the ball- a fielder cannot correctly judge where he should receive the lofted catch. Why blame
the umpires; the poor guys are on the edge throughout the night proceedings and the provocative
appeals have become the order of the day.
A distinct advantage of night cricket at Sharjah, to quite a few persons, myself included in
particular, was that a lot of important or busy people who would generally be in a meeting if
you telephoned them and often too busy to give you an appointment for a few days, were available
for an amicable discourse. It would be no sycophancy to mention a few people who take active
interest in promoting cricket in the Emirates, who attended matches of interest to them.
H.E. Shaikh Abdul Rehman Bin Salim Al Qasimi graced the tournament on a couple of occasions. To
say that Mr. Tony Andrews and Mr. Bashir Sarwar held to be there is wrong. You meet them in a
jovial mood at all matches which the Autolease cricket team plays in Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi,
Dedicated to cricket and doing their best for the game they take the defeat of their team, for
any reason whatsoever, in their stride - cheerfully remarking, "that is what cricket is about".
Mr. Qassim Noorani, quite busy during the day would be available for a relaxed conversation.
Ali Anwer has so many irons in the fire that he is here, there everywhere but available nowhere
if you want him urgently during day time without prior Information of his commitments. Cricket
lovers and promoters with a lag to their names were around; Mr. Z.U.Sabri of Panasonic,
Mr. Mansoor Javed and Mr. Amjad Imam of U.N.B. and Mr. Mohammed Aslam Malik of Malik News Agency
who has become an important supporter of the E.C.B. Cricket Team.
Messrs. Vikram Kaul, Sham Bhatia and M. Kishan Waswani were mostly there and they don't need
intros. Sharjah Council Office bearers Mr. Hayat Yar Khan Mr. S.H.I. Rizvi were generally seen
around. The tournament ended on a happy note with the Union National Bank team winning a hotly
contested final from the Indian Invitation XI. The Autolease Tournament was followed by a
day-night Al Kabeer Cold Cup Cricket Tournament for 'B' Division teams sponsored by Cascade
Marine Foods Co. Mr. Vijay Malhotra, Managing Partner of the company, inaugurated it and he was
also present at the final to give away the prizes. With busy schedules during the daytime many
important people hardly witness a whole day cricket event even on a holiday night cricket affords
them an ideal opportunity.
Before proceeding to some details of the just concluded Autolease Gold Cup (the sixth Sharjah
flood lit tournament), and away from the personalities and pleasantries of night cricket in
Sharjah some aspects of the clash of the willow and the leather out in the field would be in
order. The most distressing factor, although by now the cricketers have got used to it, is the
dew. In the 35 overs encounter, towards the end of the innings of the side batting first, the
impact of the adverse effect of the dew starts being felt. The grassy out field is wet and the
dewdrops seep in the leather, particularly at the seems of the ball. The diameter of the ball
increases and in the second half of the proceedings the ball tends to loose shape. This affects
the bowling of pacers -swingers who cannot control the line and length effectively. In a match to
be decided by runs on the board, the side fielding in the second half is handicapped. If a
breakthrough does not come early in the innings, the bowlers have to toil real hard. Fielders drop
lofted catches because of the slippery surface, of the ball. Misjudgment by players at the crease
and fielders, due to artificial lights are not uncommon. Batsmen have to be careful to avoid bouncers
and in spite of the batting gloves, the injury to the fingers is noticeable. Actually some
institutions do not field their teams in the night events for fear of injury. However, all the
hazards are a part of the game and exciting cricket in dazzling lights, with the dark sombre sky,
is now as popular as the weekend matches. Because of employment conditions, night cricket is
destined to become more popular. The spin of the coin, a deciding factor at many a cricket
ground across the globe, is of most importance in the Sharjah night encounters. In spite of the
smile of dame fortune, it is often that the "game of glorious uncertainties" ends in a victory for
the better side - and the team giving a spirited performance out in the field.
Coming to the just concluded Autolease Gold Cup, 7 local teams, Indian Invitation XI, Lanka Lions
Auto-lease, Panasonic, Sharjah Cricket Club, Shaikh Cricket Club and the Union National Bank
participated. The foreign teams Muscat C.C. and Oman C.C. from Oman; E.F.U. Multan and Peshawar C.C.
from Pakistan and the Imran Tigers S.C.L. from Saudi Arabia were the contestants. Thrilling events
were witnessed but from the beginning the Indian Invitation XI and Imran Tigers had stood out from
the rest. There was a marked improvement in the keen contest and the standard of the game. It can
be surprised that the performance of the E.C.B. XI in Kenya and the hope for a better cricketing
future has spurred on the players to put in hard work. Dedication to play serious one-day cricket
is noticeable, the standard of fielding shows improvement and the orgy of dropped catches less in
evidence.
Spectators and fans were more in numbers as compared to last year in spite of the fact the
International Matches were being telecast live on a foreign T.V. Channel. An other factor,
which augurs well for the game here - and particularly night cricket is the interest created
for sponsorship. The patronage by sponsors and co-sponsors joining the band wagon gives an
element of encouragement and hope to the cricketers and organisers in the Emirates that the
day is not far when cricket will be played here in real earnest, as in other last test playing
countries. The thrills - the keen contests - the interesting pastime for the spectators adds up
to one logical inference. Night Cricket in Sharjah has taken off with a bang. This could well be
an indication that the 19 teams which participated in the I.C.C. Trophy in Kenya and the other
countries waiting in the sidelines for permission, may exchange tours with the Emirates cricket
squad - and then in the Emirates, only night cricket will be feasible once the temperatures soars
up in summer.
Since the subject is "night cricket" it is mentioned here that "B" team tournaments have been
held at Sonapur and Al Ghusais in Dubai. Al Ain and Khorfaqan also staged night tournaments
during Ramadan. It all adds up to the great interest now evident in Night cricket pioneered by
Sharjah Stadium.
It is the men behind the events whose tireless efforts yield results. Shaikh Abdul Rehman Bin Salim Al Qasimi,
Mr. Tony Andrews and Mr. Bashir of Autolease, the main sponsors are mentioned first. Without the
overall blessings of Mr. Qassim Noorani and efforts of Mr. Irshad Ahmad the results would not be
there. Since A.J. is splashed all over, it is just a reminder of the never-ending efforts, which
the affable Ali Anwar has and is putting in for promotion of the game.
Mentioned last - but all credit goes to our cricket Tycoon Mr. Abdul Rehman Bukhatir for
building the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and popularizing cricket in the Emirates by organising the
C.B.F.S. international matches. He can rightly claim to have put United Arab Emirates on the
cricket map of the world - now a genuinely reality after the E.C.B. XI brought home the I.C.C.
Trophy from Kenya.
