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UAE cricket round-up: The eagle-eyed umpire still loving the game after 34 years

UAE cricket round-up: The eagle-eyed umpire still loving the game after 34 years

Since becoming an umpire in January 1980, Tariq Butt has lost count of the number of matches and teams he has officiated.

His CV includes being named fourth umpire of the Test series between Pakistan and West Indies in 2002 and officiating the Richie Richardson-led World XI versus UAE matches in 1994.

And now the 63-year-old can add another achievement – officiating Indian Premier League (IPL) practice matches last week.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) gave me a call asking if I wanted to officiate two practice matches – Royal Challengers Bangalore (among themselves) and Delhi Daredevils versus Sunrisers Hyderabad,” said Butt. “And I didn’t hesitate and agreed to officiate.

"To take charge of the two games is a big thing for me. To be involved in a match full of international superstars was extraordinary. I was standing there and seeing top players go past me when bowling from my end. And it was great seeing big international players like AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh.

“I had some funny jokes with Kohli and Singh and it was nice seeing the players,” added Butt after the practice matches were played at ICC Academy in Dubai before the start of the seventh edition of the competition.

Butt is widely known in the cricket community in the UAE, not only as its only senior umpire, now officiating in his 34th straight year, but also as a friend of the sport.

“I had played first class matches in Pakistan in the 1970s and for some political reasons back home, I came to Dubai in 1977,” said Butt, who had played in leagues in Lahore and Multan as a fast bowler.

“And then I started playing cricket from 1977 to 1979 in Dubai. But I had to quit playing the game as I got an ankle injury.

“Then (late) Javed Malek, who was the secretary of the Sharjah Cricket Association, asked me to become an umpire.”

And Butt, who went on to officiate at the Asian Cup (held in 1984 in UAE) which saw India crowned champions in the three-team tournament, has never looked back since.

His love for the game has seen him only take vacations during certain times of the year.

“I have never taken a break when the local season is being played. I only take my vacations during the months of June, July and August,” said Butt.

During his time here, Butt has seen cricket change dramatically.

“In 1981, I officiated in a match on Sharjah pitch played on cement. There was no ground in Dubai and matches were being played in open areas,” he said. “There was a very small quantity of cricket matches being played and the season was very short. Now there’s plenty of domestic teams and competitions which is good for everyone playing the sport here.”

Naib and Coventry are true Aces

Defending champions Wings Ahmadabad Aces got their Superstars T20 tournament to a winning start after a six-wicket victory over Afridi’s Peshawar Panthers at Fairgrounds Oval in Dubai.

Set a target of 128, Wings recovered from a slow start as man-of-the-match Gulbadin Naib top-scored with an unbeaten 59, while Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry contributed 33.

After being put in to bat first by Wings Ahmadabad Aces captain Shahzaib Hassan, Peshawar got off to the sedate start due to fearsome fast bowling by Aces opening bowlers Aijaz Cheema and Glenn Querl.

Panthers innings never gained momentum as they kept losing wickets at regular interval. Querl ended up with 2-15 and Cheema with 1-23.Adnan Raees top scored for the Panthers with 30 in 25 balls.

In reply, Panthers opening bowlers came hard at the star studded batting line-up of Ahmadabad Aces which included Coventry and West Indies’ Ryan Hinds.

Aces were reduced to 31-3 inside six overs, as Mohammed Jaffery took the prized wickets of Hassan (4) and Shaiman Anwar (11) while Yasir Hameed (9) was dismissed by Nabeel Khaliq.

Afghan all-rounder Naib and Coventry came together to form the match-winning partnership. Gulbadin’s 36-ball innings included four sixes and three fours, while Coventry was sedate in his 33.

In another match, Al Faraa Al Ain Super Kings claimed a 19-run win over Interface Delhi Mughals.


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