CRICKET in Bahrain got another firm boost with a leading company backing a top senior division team of Cricket Bahrain Association (CBA).
Young Boys, one of the oldest cricket teams on the island, was relaunched at a small but significat function as Exelon Young Boys by Exelon CEO and managing director Mohammed Mansoor, the company and the man behind the kingdom’s Bahrain Premier League (KPL).
Bahrain Combat Federation and KHK Sports CEO Mohammed Shahid, Coca-Cola managing director Mohammed Akeel, Viva Sales and Distribution director Taral Parekh and Al Arayedh Group’s Mohammed Mansoor bin Mohammed Jameel bin Mansoor Al Arayedh were the chief guests at the function where the new kit was unveiled and presented to the players.
KPL was the first-ever franchise-based T20 cricket tournament held in Bahrain earlier this year with an unprecedented $10,000 in prize money.
In another first, players were auctioned in Indian Premier League-style and the best were cherry-picked after fierce bidding wars.
With Mansoor having taken this path-breaking initiative, more companies are expected to back a larger number of teams so that the CBA senior division can become more professional and players more passionate about the game on the island.
Royal
In another development, cricket in Bahrain also got a royal touch with Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa consenting to become the honorary president of CBA.
“Shaikh Khalid has generously agreed to become the honorary president of CBA. Shaikh Khalid’s support to cricket on the island will further boost the game and help it grow and expand,” said Mansoor, who is also planning to build a multi-purpose indoor cricket stadium with a turf wicket, stands for spectators and other facilities.
“I want cricket in Bahrain to become more professional. And it can get professional only when big companies in Bahrain back the teams, both financially and by providing the best infrastrucute. I have taken the initiative by taking over Young Boys and sincerely hope more companies will come forward,” said Mansoor.
Exelon Young Boys have won their first two matches so far this season and are the firm favourites to win the title.
Exelon Young Boys team: Qamar Saeed (captain), Asghar Bajwa, Naeem Choudhary , Ashraf Mughal, Mohammed Muhammad Yaqoob, Abbasi , Adnan Rasool, Farukh, Zubair , Tahir Dar, Majid Khan, Zeeshan Abbas, Abdul Waheed, Talha, Naim, Ashfaq Rana, Luqman Qaiser, Irfan Farooqi, Maaz, P Singh. Manager – Prachur Shukla
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