TACK-HUAWEI XI (From Kuwait) has been the runners up in the biggest domestic cricket tournament Desert Premier League in Dubai. #cricket #q8 #kuwait
Out of 32 corporate teams in the GCC, TACK-HUAWEI XI (From Kuwait) has been the runners up in the biggest domestic cricket tournament Desert Premier League in Dubai.
Teams Association for cricket in Kuwait (TACK) and HUAWEI’s two-month long journey, right from the setting up of a training camp for the prestigious Desert Premier League at TACK Entertainment City Cricket Ground – Doha to announcement of the squad at a glitzy press conference, to the team’s departure from Kuwait, reached its zenith on Saturday 22nd May as TACK-HUWEI XI played its first official overseas tour final against a power packed Mehran Star Transport XI at the picturesque Emirates The Sevens Cricket ground in Dubai.
TACK-HUAWEI XI had managed to win the hearts of the crowd and other teams through the course of the tournament through their entertaining and free spirited playing style as they had a dream run up to the finals where the team won all of its three league games along with three subsequent knockout matches to face Mehran Star Transport in the finals.
With Khaleej Times as the official print partner, Radio Mirchi the official radio partner, and Imagine movies the official TV partner of the Desert Premier League, the hype created around and up to the finals was a perfect fitting for the top two teams of the tournament battling it out for a cash prize of 50 000 Dhs and the ultimate champions trophy.
Mehran Star Transport (MST) won the crucial toss and chose to bat first. Mohammed Rizwan, the international player of Pakistan was the decisive factor in their batting line up as the talented wicket-keeper who is getting ready to take over the gloves from the Akmal brothers for Pakistan played a cracker of an innings scoring a match winning 51 not out for his side. MST managed to put up a fighting score of 132 on a green wicket that had the ball bouncing, gripping and spinning away from the batsmen. Kashif Shareef was the pick of the bowlers for TACK-HUAWEI XI as he took three wickets in four overs giving away 19 runs only. Imran Ali and Khalid Butt took two wickets with Ali Shehzad and Raheel chipping in with a wicket each.
Chasing a target of 133 in bowling friendly conditions was never going to be easy and it became much tougher when TACK-HUAWEI XI lost Khalid Butt early with only 6 runs on the board. Hard hitting batsman Yasir Butt went all guns blazing with 4 quick boundaries taking the score to 25 for 1 in 4 overs but was later caught behind in the 5th over. With Kashif Shareef and Usman Ghani on the crease, TACK-HUAWEI XI looked in control as the experienced batsmen maneuvered the ball smartly and took the score to 45 for 2 in 7 overs. Unfortunately, it was then the flurry of wickets that gave MST complete control of the match as Usman Ghani was caught at third man trying to play an upper cut with Asghar Ali caught at mid-wicket going for a massive heave as well and Kashif was bowled with the finest of inside edges that clipped the bail of the off stump. With ten runs an over required in the last 6 overs, TACK-HUAWEI XI was reeling at 70 for 6 having lost their captain Zahid also and it was up to Imran Ali and Adnan Idrees to show some courage and self belief and the duo did as the latter smashed a massive six over the mid-wicket region with some quick singles and doubles. Adnan Idrees was later caught and bowled with Imran Ali caught at square leg region and in the end, it was all too late as TACK-HUAWEI XI lost by a margin of 20 runs.
TACK-HAUWEI XI lost the finals to a team that was full of first class cricketers along with some international cricketers also. The bowing, fielding and batting of MST was of international standards and on their day they were clearly a tough side to beat. The man of the finals was clearly the international wicket keeper from Pakistan, Mohammed Rizwan for his unbeaten knock of 51 runs and spectacular keeping behind the stumps. He also played a crucial role in assisting his captain setting the right fields for different batsmen.
The presentation ceremony included some of the big names in One Day Internationals who have left a huge mark on the way the game of T-20 is played today. From Pakistan, the dashing opener Imran Nazir graced the occasion with Ryan Hinds from West Indies and Charles Coventry from Zimbabwe doing the honors of giving away all the important awards. Charles Coventry shared the highest score of 194 with the legendary Saeed Anwar for a long time before it was beaten by Virender Sehwag with an individual score of 219. Imran Nazir handed over the best bowler of the tournament to Kashif Shareef who picked 13 wickets at an economy rate of less than 6 runs an over. Imran Ali from TACK-HUAWEI XI was awarded the best fielder of the tournament by Ryan Hinds and Usman Ghani for scoring more than four 30 plus scores was adjudged the most entertaining player of the tournament by Charles Coventry.
Participation in the biggest corporate tournament in GCC now famously known as DPL (Desert Premier League (DPL) is a watershed moment in TACK’s history and in future, will be ranked amongst one of its most significant achievements alongside the historic 4 Nations Festival, children’s cricket academy, domestic tournament finals, corporate leagues and many others etc. Apart from the team’s success on the field, DPL has been an organizational success for TACK-MG in their first appearance in an international tournament. Right from its initial stages where a pool of top 30 players of Kuwait were inducted in the training camp, to the glittering press conference organized to unveil the official jersey of TACK-HUAWEI XI, the management and staff worked tirelessly to execute this event with precision and without any loopholes. The Telecommunication giant Huawei has become a name to be reckoned with in the game of cricket and a long-term supporter and partner of TACK with grand plans for the future awaiting the cricket lovers of Kuwait.
The official sports equipment partner for TACK-HUAWEI XI was Pro Sports which provided branded equipment to the entire squad of 16 players. The printing requirements of TACK-HUAWEI-XI, were managed and handled by the Germany Printing Press Company, one of the leading giants in print solutions in the market of Kuwait. Camco Global Events came in as the official events management partner of the press conference. Though TACK-HUAWEI came back as runners up out of the top 32 corporate teams in DPL, TACK-MG management and their team have made all their sponsors, partners and cricket lovers in Kuwait extremely proud by a near flawless performance on and off the cricket field.
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