YANBU, 8 October 2004 — It was a fabulous event for cricket lovers from all around Yanbu and Jeddah last week. They thronged the venue for the grand intercity cricket match between Yanbu Cricket League (YCL) and Jeddah Cricket League (JCL).
“This is a moment of glory for the entire YCL executive team for successfully hosting the first day and night Under-17 Intercity Cricket Match,” said an ecstatic YCL President Abdul Jabbar Hussain.
The match, sponsored by Arab News, was the first ever in Saudi cricket history to be played in a floodlit ground. Cricket matches have been major events in Yanbu for more than two decades. Saudi Aramco, the SABIC companies, Lubrizol, Fuchs Petroleum and other local firms have always been supporters of Yanbu cricket, recognizing how essential the game is to the well-being and morale of their employees. When one is far from home, something as simple as a cricket match can make a huge difference in the quality of life.
Last week’s match was played with a white ball and a black sight screen at the magnificent Royal Commission/YCL cricket ground. The venue is described as a one of a kind facility in the Kingdom. Over the years the Royal Commission has built numerous sports facilities to provide recreation for Yanbu’s residents and the new cricket ground is just one of the latest additions in that effort.
Royal Commission officials, especially Yousif Al-Hujaili, deputy director general, public services division, believe that sport provides an opportunity for people of many nationalities and backgrounds to come together in a feeling of brotherhood. These days there is more emphasis on security in the industrial city, but that does not mean that sporting events have been canceled. In fact, the entire community now feels that they must turn out to support such occasions and attendance at the cricket match was phenomenal.
On Thursday last, JCL U-17 Captain Hussain won the toss and elected to bat. JCL suffered an early blow when they lost the wicket of Mohir who was bowled by Muhammad for just four in the second over of the match. Hussain Anwar and Omar Riyaz were then involved in a 54-run partnership. Omar Riyaz batted magnificently but did not complete his maiden century. He was run out for 92. The JCL U-17 team was bowled out for 186 runs in 24.2 overs. Muhammad and Ahmad took two wickets each, while Hamza, Faizee and Shaan claimed a wicket each.
Chasing the target, the YCL U-17 started their innings and soon lost the wicket of Ahmad when the score was 21. Then came Captain Salman Hussain who played a breezy knock of 53 in just 28 deliveries before being caught by Mohir. His second wicket partnership added 71 valuable runs, which not only consolidated the YCL’s hold on the match but also made the task look easier for the rest of the batsmen. However, a spell of intelligent bowling from JCL’s spinners swung the fortunes of the game in their favor. Some quick wickets followed, which made the task difficult for the YCL. Arsalan Tariq, who opened the innings, played a heroic knock of 54 but could not lead his team to victory. YCL fell short of three runs at the end. The match, however, will be remembered for the spirit shown by young players.
The regular match between YCL XI and JCL XI was played for the Lubrizol Cup on Friday. JCL Captain Humayun won the toss and elected to bat. They lost their opener Nadeem in the very first over, as Riyaz caught him off the bowling of Naseem Khatak. Then came a marvelous 134-run partnership for the second wicket between Faisal 63 and Syed Kalim 64.
YCL captain Shaukatullah brought Munir into the attack and he broke the partnership thus giving the much-needed breakthrough to his team. Then the wickets kept falling in quick succession. The saving grace was the 90-run fifth wicket partnership between Abdullah, 62, and Naim Shah, 54. They were all out for 323 runs in 34.5 overs. Tanvir took three wickets for 46 and Nasrullah and Munir claimed two wickets each. Naseem and Riaz had a wicket each.
Chasing the huge target of 324 at the rate of 9.22 runs per over was not an easy task for YCL XI. Opener Tanvir Khan and Shahbaz Aslam started cautiously, but man-of-the-match Shahbaz stole the show with his double century. By scoring 220 not out, he surpassed his previous best of 184 against Madinah Cricket League and 216 not out against Royal Commission. In the process, he was involved in a 189-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Nasrullah Bhatti (33 not out). They won the match by six wickets in the 31st over.
This match will be remembered as Shahbaz Aslam versus JCL, as he single-handedly gave victory to his team. Naim Shah, Humayun and Amanullah claimed a wicket each for JCL XI. Shankar of YCL officiated the match, with JCL’s Kumar Krishnan maintaining the scorebook and YCL’s Aslam Qureshi and JCL’s Ahmad taking care of the statistics.
The chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony was Yousif Al-Hujaili of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. Adnan Haidary accompanied him from the Royal Commission’s Social Services. Farid Zaki, Maqsood Ali, Shahbaz Baig of Lubrizol, Naeem Rais and Khaled M. Haddad, supervisor at the planning and training department of Saudi Aramco, Akil Khan, project manager at Zomco, Hanif Sattar of Fuchs Petroleum. Fakir Muhammad Patel from the Royal Commission was among those present.
JCL was represented by President Shahid Amin. With him were the ever cheerful Iqbal Chowdhury, JCL’s executive secretary, and the evergreen Afsar Faheem, general secretary (technical). Siraj Wahab represented Arab News.
Shahid Amin appreciated YCL’s executive members for putting up a magnificent show and conducting it successfully. He assured all possible support to promote cricket and further improve the facilities.
Adnan Haidary, who has always extended his support to YCL, congratulated the entire YCL team for their efforts in upgrading the facilities and conducting intercity matches.
Shahid Amin thanked the YCL for their hospitality in Yanbu and congratulated Coach Shahbaz Baig and his team for winning the match. He also thanked YCL for providing the opportunity for the JCL players to be the part of this historic moment and invited YCL team to play in Jeddah. He assured all that they would continue to have the unstinting support of JCL and CCCB.
Siraj Wahab, editor, Arab News, read out Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena’s message at the event. A major cricket fan himself, Almaeena was very appreciative of the new cricket ground available in Yanbu and assured all local lovers of the game that Arab News would continue to support and to promote cricket across the Kingdom. Almaeena also advised that if there is any proposal to stage an international cricket event in the Kingdom, then Yanbu should be considered as the first choice. His address also emphasized that the game of cricket is about sportsmanship and skill. All politics should be left behind when teams step out on the green.
YCL President Abdul Jabbar thanked all executive members and volunteers for their support. They included Khaled Khan, Akram Qureshi, Tariq Mahmood, Habibullah, Aslam Qureshi, Iqbal Patel, Basharat, Basit, Waheed, Shankar and Hamza who worked hard to make this event a “big success.” He thanked the Royal Commission and Al-Yasrah for their support. He presented a memento to chief guest Yusif Al-Hujaili and Shahid Amin on behalf of YCL. Shahid Amin also presented a memento to Jabbar Hussain on behalf of JCL.
Winners and Runners-up trophies were presented too. They included man-of-the-match Shahbaz Aslam, best bowler Hamza of YCL U-17 team. The catch of the match award was given to Zeeshan of YCL U-17 team, Best Batsman award was handed over to Omar Riyaz of JCL U-17 team.
— With input from Aslam Qureishi
