KARACHI, Feb 1: Vice chairman, Dubai Cricket Council and member Executive Committee, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), Mohamed Redha Abdulla Abbas, said on Wednesday that cricket was flourishing at school level in the Gulf.

‘Though UAE never qualified for the U-19 World Cup, it has bright chances of making a breakthrough at the U-15 and U-17 levels as expatriate youths were playing the game in a large number,” Redha who was in the city to watch Pakistan-India third Test, told Dawn.

He said “We have a three-tier system and the game revolves around expatriates rather than the locals.”

Referring to the development of game in the UAE he said the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) provides substantial support to the uplift of game as it was not funded by the government.

When asked why the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBSF) has not played host to international activities for the last three years he replied it could not materialise due to the tight schedule of Test playing nations.

Inviting Pakistan alone would not serve the purpose as it will attract one-sided crowd, he added.

Sharjah served as a neutral venue for two Tests between Pakistan-West Indies and Pakistan-Australia in 2002-03.

His association with the game as organiser dates back to 1976 when he managed UAE team against visiting PIA in two matches played at Al Khan ground, Sharjah.

He also expressed his delight at UAE’s qualification for the Asia Cup cricket tournament for the third successive time which speaks volumes about the talent in the UAE.