Report from Shodhan Prasad
Pics: Sujay Bendore
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai (GA)
Dubai, Feb 23: Jubilant Arab Udupi Cricket Club on Sunday February 22 celebrated their team's recent victory against Seven Seas Cricketers UAE at the India Club Dubai in their Darbar Hall at 7.30 pm onwards with a bang. Their recent win lifted them as one of the champions of UAE cricket world.
Despite some late dramatics on Friday February 13, Arab Udupi emerged as champions in the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council's prestigious Division A tournament by virtue of losing lesser wickets against Seven Seas in the final.
The closely contested final with Seven Seas, saw some drama as Arab Udupi took more than the allotted time to bowl their 50 overs and hence the ADCC's tournament committee added 10 runs to the Seven Seas score which made it a tie. But Arab Udupi were named the champions as they had lost only seven wickets in comparison to Seven Seas' nine and the hoteliers celebrated with the trophy, their fourth triumph in this premier event for A division teams but also open to invited B Division teams.
"We are very happy to win this ADCC A Division title which is in its inaugural year. Earlier, it was the NMC Trophy and we had won it thrice," said Shekar Shetty, owner of the Arab Udupi chain of restaurants across the UAE. "The players have been with us for a long time and some of them are guest players but have been very consistent and Friday's win was after a tough battle with a strong rival team," added Shetty, who has been running the cricket teams for well over two decades now. For Arab Udupi, Naeemuddin Aslam was the top scorer, falling one short of his half century. Safdar Niazi slammed 42 from 33 balls.
Davender Taneja picked four for 32 from his 10 overs to finish with 16 wickets in the tournament and win the Best Bowler Award. Vikrant Shetty took three for 42 from eight overs to help Arab Udupi restrict their rivals in the run chase.
At the celebration it was an evening filled with fun and frolic which was witnessed by the invitees including presidents of various regional associations of Karnataka, the Team members and other near and dear ones from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Shekar Shetty, owner of Arab Udupi Group of Companies, and Rajyotsava Awardee was thrilled by his team’s victory. He in his speech expressed his intention to share the joy with all his very close associates in UAE.
The programme was opened with a welcome speech by Thomson D'Silva (fondly called as Uncle by his team-mates) who is the manager of Arab Udupi Cricket Team for more than a decade. He in his welcome note revealed the bringing up of the team and how he has managed the team to the present status. Arab Udupi Team was formed in the year 1981 by Shekar Shetty being himself a strong supporter of Cricket. He put all his efforts in sponsoring all the needs of the players whether it is practice or a match to a perfect one with his physical backing every time. The team has flourished well in the recent years and has many feathers its cap defeating their rival teams year after year. They were the proud winners of Tulu Koota UAE Cup in the year 1991.
Khushala and Shekar Shetty both were honoured on the stage by Uncle Thomson and his past captains, Prasanna Hegde, Raja Anand and present captain Naeemuddin. They were honoured with shawl, bouquet and a memento. Later Mohammad Masood, Mohammad Kamil, Piyush Maloo and Afzal Mitto were also praised for their cricketing skills and were called upon on the stage. Shekar Shetty spoke a few words on the performance of the team and remembered each and every player, whether the wicket-keeper or the bowler, hitter or the fielder who have put their individual effort in different fields of cricket to bring the team to its present status.
Later Uncle Thomson was honoured on the stage by Khushala and Shekar Shetty for all his good deeds. He was presented with flower bouquet, shawl, fruit basket, certificate and memento. His efforts in keeping the spirit of the team was remembered and saluted. Ganesh Rai, ex-president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, introduced Uncle Thomson and read out the honour certificate before presenting it to him. Sarvotham Shetty and C R Shetty were invited to the stage to do the proceedings. A bouquet was also presented by Prabhakar Ambalthere on behalf of Ambalthere Vision to the jubilant Team.
Team members, Naeemuddin Aslam (Captain), Mohammad. Ibrahim, Prashanth Braggs, Sunil Kanojia, Vikranth Shetty, Syed Maksood, Safdar Niyazi, Sharan Pinto, Sameer Nayak, C T K Mashood, Devender Taneja, Marlon Fernando, Prajakth Chauhan, Piyush Maloo, Ojas Mehta, Raja Anand, Shafi Ahmed, Sudhir Sawanth, Azim Mohd and Ghazanffer Ahmed were all praised for their efforts in putting the team on the top line and were called on to the stage with honours. They were individually presented with medals, rose, memento and cash prize by Kushala and Shekar Shetty in the presence of their manager.
All the female invitees were welcomed with individual red roses and the children were happy to receive lot of gifts, sweets and take-aways.
The evening was made memorable by DJ Bosco's tilting foot-tapping music and MC Neil's smooth handling of the crowd. Children were encouraged to participate in variety game conducted by the MC.
Programme concluded with sumptuous buffet dinner with beverages and all the invitees thanked Shekar Shetty for arranging such a grand celebration.