Youngsters at Emirates D10 impress UAE coach Robin Singh

UAE coach Robin Singh. (KT file)

The UAE coach Robin Singh was highly impressed by the talent on show in the recently concluded Emirates D10 tournament, according to the national cricket team captain Ahmed Raza.
The D10 (July 24-August 7), organised by the Emirates Cricket Board, was the first cricket tournament in the UAE after the Covid-19-enforced break.
And Singh, who finally arrived in the UAE last week after international travel restrictions had delayed his plans, was happy with the way some of the young players performed in the tournament.
"Lot of the young players impressed during the tournament. Our coach (Robin Singh) was really impressed with some of the talents which was on show during the tournament," Raza, who led the ECB Blues to victory in the inaugural edition of the tournament, told Khaleej Times.
"If I am not wrong, he (Robin Singh) arrived when the playoffs were going on. So he watched all the matches that took place in the stadium. He was very impressed with the standard of the tournament.
"The feedback we got from him was very good. Honestly it was the best tournament to start things off. It was the first tournament after such a long time. It was a very well-organised event.
"And the credit should go to the ECB for that. People who do the work behind the scenes don't really get lot of credit, but I think it was a very well-organised tournament. Definitely a huge success."
The ECB Blues beat Fujairah Pacific Ventures by six wickets in the final of the 34-match tournament that saw six teams.
UAE all-rounder Rohan Mustafa, who played a key tole in the ECB Blues victory, said the T10 was the best format in the weather conditions.
"I was very happy to be back on the field again after such a long time. The weather was hot, to be honest. The humidity was quite high. But all the training I have done in the four months helped me a lot," Mustafa told Khaleej Times.
"Plus, it was the T10 format, which I believe was the ideal format for us after the long break. Also, our coach (Robin Singh) also got to watch the boys, which is very important."
For UAE opening batsman Chirag Suri, the best feeling was to be back on the ground again.
"It was a really good feeling. We felt like we were back home. Hats off to the ECB for putting this tournament up at this point in time," Suri, who also played for the ECB Blues, told Khaleej Times.
"There were some terrific performances from everyone involved. It was T10 so it was about going out there and enjoying yourself. It's not very easy to be consistent in this format, but it's about making significant contributions. And I just enjoyed myself out there more than anything else."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com