CRICKET – The future of Bahrain cricket must begin in the kingdom’s schools, Bahrain Cricket Federation advisory board chairman Mohammad Mansoor has emphasised.
Mansoor highlighted that this is particularly important in government schools, creating opportunities for young Bahraini boys and girls to discover and develop their cricketing potential.
“One of our most important objectives is to develop a new generation of homegrown Bahraini cricketers,” said Mansoor, who is also an Asian Cricket Council executive board member, following the BCF’s announcement of Dinesh Muthuraman as the federation’s new CEO, marking an important milestone in the BCF’s ambitious strategy to elevate Bahrain cricket to new heights and establish the kingdom as one of the region’s leading cricketing hubs.
“We want to introduce structured cricket training programmes beginning at government schools, identifying young talent early and providing clear pathways from school cricket to academies, domestic competitions and ultimately our national teams.
“This initiative will be pursued in alignment with the youth and sports development vision of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whose leadership continues to inspire the development of sport and young sporting talent across the kingdom.
“Our goal is to make cricket a sport that Bahraini children can embrace, participate in, and aspire to represent their country internationally.
“We also want to create stronger opportunities for women’s cricket, invest in the development of coaches and officials, and ensure that the benefits of cricket reach the wider community.”
The BCF intends to work closely with relevant government authorities, educational institutions, schools, and community stakeholders to progressively develop structured school cricket programmes, talent identification initiatives and age-group competitions.
Under the new leadership structure spearheaded by Muthuraman, the BCF will focus on developing a comprehensive high-performance strategy aimed at improving the competitiveness of Bahrain’s men’s, women’s, and youth national teams.
This will include strengthening coaching structures, expanding international exposure, establishing systematic talent development pathways, and building relationships with leading cricketing nations.
The BCF will also explore opportunities to attract international teams for bilateral series, training camps and tournaments, positioning Bahrain as an attractive cricket destination with modern facilities, professional event management, and strong regional connectivity.
Commercial development will be another major priority, with increased emphasis on corporate sponsorships, strategic partnerships, tournament opportunities and long-term financial sustainability.
Mansoor added: “Bahrain has the geographical advantage, international connectivity, sporting ambition, and institutional support to become an important centre for cricket in this region.
“Our responsibility now is to develop the infrastructure, professional systems, and international partnerships necessary to realise that potential.
“We want Bahrain cricket to be recognised not only for its performance on the field but also for its professionalism, innovation, inclusiveness and contribution to the global cricket community.”
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