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Dubai, UAE, February 7, 2016: The Emirati Development Program - an initiative of Emirates Cricket Board to hone cricketing skills of promising talent especially Emirati youth - has started on the front foot by garnering positive response in Al Ain. Launched in early 2015, the first phase of the development program was rolled out in September 2015 in the Garden City of the United Arab Emirates, registering 280 students of ages 8 to 12 years in weekly training classes across 4 schools - Al Sadara, Al Tamayouz, Tariq Bin Zaid, and Al Tafouq. To facilitate the program’s success in the Emirati community and spearhead the activities, Emirates Cricket Board announced the appointment of Shahzada Saleem (Qasim) in November last year. A Pakistani national fluent in Arabic, Qasim brings in a two-decade long association with cricket in the UAE which includes coaching the all-Emirati National Team that won two consecutive Gulf Cup titles in 2011 and 2012. Al Ain Water - title sponsor of the UAE National Under-19 tournament and beverage sponsor of the Emirates Cricket Board - had announced that it would be the official co-sponsor of the Emirati Development Program in a joint press conference held with Emirates Cricket Board last year. Speaking about the program’s progress so far, Mr. Fasahat Beg - Executive Vice President, Consumer Business Division, Agthia Group (PJSC) said, “We are extremely delighted to see the encouraging results from Emirati Development Program’s initial phase. Al Ain Water upholds the importance of leading an active lifestyle and striking the right balance between studies and sports at school. We are confident that our shared objective of identifying local players and developing their cricket skills will breed values of meaningful competition, team spirit and sportsmanship - all advocated by a sport also known as the gentleman’s game”. Mariam Nasser Thani Al-Neyadi, Vice Principal of Tariq Bin Zaid, underlined the rousing welcome exhibited by students for the program and sport - “Cricket has been an excellent addition to our school sports program, and the kids have enjoyed learning this new and different game. It’s been particularly fascinating to explore new equipment and learn the rules. In fact, its popularity has soared so much that teachers are using the Al Ain Water Cricket sessions with Mr. Qasim as a reward for good behaviour.” David East, Emirates Cricket Chief Executive Officer commented - “Emirates Cricket is very pleased with the reception the pilot programme has received from the schools, the teachers and most importantly the students. We are looking forward to implementing the programme into more schools across the Emirates during 2016 and watch the popularity of the sport grow amongst the Emirati community. We, once again, extend our thanks to the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, and to Al Ain Water for their commitment to this programme” he added. The Emirati Development Program also involved the schools’ teaching & non-teaching staff by imparting basic cricket training, and sought their assistance for professional coaching sessions undertaken at the schools. In addition to the regular training, Al Sadara School celebrated the newly added sport by conducting cricket-related activities during the UAE National Sports Day on 20th November 2015. The second phase of the program which begins this year will involve 600 students from 10 schools across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The third and final phase, commencing in 2017
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