Sharjah Cricket Academy A emerges winner of the Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 Under-17 tournament as skipper Aayan Afzal Khan produces yet another match winning knock along with opener Aryan Saxena

By K.R. Nayar

Sharjah Cricket Academy A emerged supreme in the Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 Under-17 tournament through a clinical performance against Victoria Cricket Academy in the final held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, June 27. Skipper Aayan Afzal Khan once again led from the front through another match-winning unbeaten 63, and along with opener Aryan Saxena, who hit 60, they ensured a six-wicket win over Victoria Cricket Academy

Sharjah Cricket Academy A team - champions of the Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 Under-17 tournament 

Aayan Afzal Khan, who had scored 61 not out against BE Spartans and had an unbeaten 83 against Desert Cubs B in the earlier matches, received the Player of the Tournament award and the winners’ trophy from Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO Sharjah Cricket and Mazhar Khan, General Manager Sharjah Cricket during the colorful presentation ceremony.

Sharjah Cricket Academy A captain Aayan Afzal Khan receives the winners trophy from Khalaf  Bukhatir and Mazhar Khan  

Victoria Cricket Academy got restricted to 129 for 6 despite their opener Yousaf Ahmad Khan’s fine knock of 51. This consistent aggressive opener bagged the best batsman of the tournament award. He had hit 59 against YTCA Goltay and an impressive 111 against Desert Cubs B in recent matches.

Victoria Cricket Academy - runners up of the Sharjah CBFS juniors 2022 Under-17 tournament 

Victoria Cricket Academy opted to bat after winning the toss. They lost their opener Raafey Awazi to Harsh Desai for 4. Opener Yousaf Ahmad Khan and his captain Deepak Raj put on a 59 runs partnership for the second wicket. Yousaf hit a breezy knock of 51 in 38 balls with seven boundaries and one six before falling to Abdullah Ismail. Six runs later, Deepak Raj too fell to Abdullah Ismail for 30. After this, the Sharjah Cricket Academy bowlers strangled the run flow through some tight bowling although Mohammad Khan still managed to score 16 runs. Abdullah Ismail went on to pick his third wicket when he clean bowled Muhammad Hasher for 8.

Victoria Cricket Academy captain Deepak Raj receives the runners-up trophy from Mazhar Khan and yours truly 

Khushi Sharma, the UAE women’s team cricketer, kept the scoreboard moving but unfortunately was run out for 10. Aayan Afzal Khan then had Fadil Ahmed stumped by wicketkeeper Mudit Agarwal to restrict Victoria Cricket Academy to 129 for 6 in 20 overs. Though their striker bowler Zainullah Khan failed to get a wicket, he gave away just 21 runs from his four overs and went on to bag the best bowler of the tournament award.

Aayan Afzal Khan receives the Player of the Tournament award from Khalaf Bukhatir 

Sharjah Cricket Academy openers Aryan Saxena and Aayan Afzal Khan chased the total through a positive approach. Aryan Saxena went for his shots to dominate the bowling. Aayan Afzal Khan too played some lovely shots especially his pull shots to put on a partnership of 101 in 10.4 overs. Aryan Saxena fell to Khushi Sharma for 60 off 40 balls after scoring nine powerfully hit boundaries and a six.

Yousaf Ahmad Khan receives the best batsman award from Khalaf Bukhatir 

One-drop Mudit Agarwal was run out through a fine fielding from Yousaf Ahmad Khan for a duck. Harsh Desai too followed falling to Shivansh Pandey for 2. Varun had Ayan PC stumped by wicketkeeper Raafey Awazi for 1 but Aayan Afzal Khan stood steady. He carried the team to the target with five overs to spare. His unbeaten 63 came off 37 balls with six boundaries and three sixes.

Zainullah receives the best bowler award from yours truly 

Speaking about his team’s performance and his consistent performance that won them the coveted trophy, Aayan Afzal Khan said: “I am happy that I scored well in the last two matches and all the others too contributed.  We played very well as a team. This tournament was an excellent one for all of us. We have got a fine bowler in Zainullah, a good opener in Aryan Saxena, and an excellent wicketkeeper in Mudit Agarwal. We thank our coaches for the support. It is a tournament which will be a big boost for everyone.”

Victoria Cricket Academy skipper Deepak Raj, after receiving the runners-up trophy, said: “It was a great tournament for us. Reaching the final is not an easy thing. We had a great start today but unfortunately we could not capitalize on it in the end. Well played Sharjah Cricket Academy.”

The live coverage of this junior tournament was watched by fans from all around the world. The CBFS junior event made up of Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 tournaments, staged with the slogan “A platform to perform”, and had 60 matches, thus concluded at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Brief scores:
Sharjah Cricket Academy A bt Victoria Cricket Academy by 6 wkts. Victoria Cricket Academy 129 for 6 in 20 overs (Yousaf Ahmad Khan 51, Deepak Raj 30, Abdullah Ismail 3 for 23)  Sharjah Cricket Academy 130 for 4 in 15 overs(Aryan Saxena 60, Aayan Afzal Khan 63n.o).
Player of the final: Aayan Afzal Khan (Sharjah Cricket Academy A)
Player of the tournament: Aayan Khan
Best Batsmen: Yousaf Khan (Victoria CA)
Best Bowler: Zainullah (Sharjah Cricket Academy A)