Bahrain, another cricketing nation from the Gulf, has fought all odds to qualify for the T20 World Cup Global qualifiers in Australia next year

By K.R. Nayar

Bahrain, a small country in the Gulf region, has risen to qualify for the 2022 T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers to be held in Australia in November next year.  It has been a remarkable journey for this team which has hardly any facilities and not even a turf wicket in their country. They have reached the big stage through sheer enthusiasm of the players and the passionate support of the newly appointed Bahrain Cricket Federation

The victorious Bahrain team with the trophy

Bahrain topped the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Asia A beating hosts Qatar, Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Incidentally, teams from Bahrain and their players have been playing in the UAE’s domestic cricket tournaments as well as training at venues here to gain experience of playing on turf wickets. Many budding cricketers have enrolled with cricket academies here to sharpen their game. They have made the first impact by topping a T20 World Cup Qualifier.

In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Asia A tournament in Qatar, Bahrain, playing against Qatar, recorded an impressive eight wicket win restricting Qatar on their home ground to 133 for 5 and won the match in 13.1 overs through their openers Mohammad Younis’s unbeaten 82 and Sarfaraz Ali’s 42.  They then went on to restrict Maldives for a paltry 88 for 9 in the next match and win by seven wickets. Their star performer was captain Anasim Khan, who took three wickets for 15 runs and also hit an unbeaten 23. 

Bahrain team celebrate their victory 

In the well-fought match against experienced Saudi Arabia, Bahrain won by 18 runs. Bahrain posted 179 for 9 through opener Sarfaraz Ali’s 67 and restricted Saudi Arabia to 161 for 6. Though Bahrain lost to Kuwait, they topped the points table with six points. Kuwait could muster only four points. Although Qatar too finished with six points, Bahrain had the better run rate.

Bahrain skipper Anasim Khan, who showed the way

Among the top performers for Bahrain in the qualifiers were Mohammad Younis, who was the highest run getter of the tournament with 159 runs. Bahrain skipper Anasim Khan was third among the wicket takers with seven wickets and wicketkeeper Imran Ali Butt was second among most dismissals with three catches and two stumpings.

Hatim Dadabai, President of the Bahrain Cricket Federation

Talking about the efforts in Bahrain to boost the game, Hatim Dadabai, President of the Bahrain Cricket Federation, said: “We would like to thank His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the first deputy chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, the president of the General Sports Authority and the President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, for his continued support to the board and also to the General Sports Authority. We had major tasks since we took over two months ago and we have now started a local league to spot talent. We selected and prepared the Bahrain national team for this tournament. All of have worked hard and we have achieved the impossible in such a short time. Under Anasim Khan’s captaincy and the direction of national team coach, Azeem Ul Haque, the squad has played fantastic cricket. Hats off to the coaches and players who have worked really hard in the last few weeks. We have now done well in this Asia Qualifier and we hope to do well in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Australia next year and keep progressing.”

Bahrain team coach Azeem Ul Haque

Team coach Azeem Ul Haque believes that qualifying for the global qualifiers will attract more Bahrani nationals to take up cricket. “As of now we have around 50 plus Bharani national players in different age groups. For the senior team we have a pool of 14 players and 14 reserves and among those five are Bahraini nationals.  We have created a pool of 60 players as potential national players and in that there are 20 Bahraini national players.  Even in our Under-16, Under-19, Under-14 and Under 12 tournaments there are many potential local Bahrainis. The new board has taken strong steps to reach out to the government schools and groom the local Bahranis,” said Azeem Ul Haque.

Bharain Cricket board members from left: Manaf Al Mannai, Vice President, Anoop Kewalram, Secretary General,  Fawaz Isa Bokhowa, Treasurer,  Hatim Dadabai, President, Ahmed Baqer, board member 

 

Skipper Anasim Khan attributed the triumph to His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa who supported his team in every step. “The new board and the previous board has done a lot of hard work. So it is a remarkable feeling. We hadn’t played international cricket for a long time and also we don’t have the facilities but yet we put in everything to win. The boys have been working hard for the last eight months and this is the reward for the effort.  We are happy to make an impact. As you all know the T20 World Cup is now even being held in UAE. Slowly but surely cricket will get stronger among the GCC countries.”