Indian cricketing star Yuvraj Singh said that the annual ‘India-Maldivves Friendship Cricket Series’ matches to be held jointly by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Cricket Board and the Indian Embassy in Maldives, is "a monumental start" for Maldivian cricket.
Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof, President of Cricket Board Mohamed Aflah, Cricket Board members and cricket players were in attendance at the reception to welcome the Air India team players and officials, who arrived Thursday for their game against a team captained by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the national team.
In addition to Yuvraj, players of Indian Premier League (IPL) are included in the Air India team. However, India’s spin bowling specialist Harbhajan Singh is not present in the team, although Air India team is still working to recruit him.
Yuvraj thanked the Maldivian government and Air India for granting this opportunity, while speaking to the press in the VIP lounge of Velana International Airport.
“I am very pleased about cricket being chosen in order to strengthen the friendship between the two countries”, said Yuvaj, who played in the Indian team that won the Cricket World Cup in 2011.
Moreover, Yuvraj remarked that this is a very good initiative and that many youth players should attain encouragement from the matches to progress within the sport.
Currently at the age of 37, Yuvraj is a national team player for India who has contested in 247 test matches and is the highest valued player in IPL. Yuvraj is set to play for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL this year.
Former player for Indian national team, Nikhil Chopra, who arrived with Air India said that he views assisting Maldivian cricket as a joy for India.
Nikhil, who played for the Indian national team in the 1999 World Cup, noted that this would also be the beginning of assistance for the Maldivian national team.
“…our door is always open. We would always assist. It would be a pleasure see a strong Maldivian cricket team. Hard work will ensure Maldives’ progression in the sport", he said.
Additionally, it was Nikhil’s request for Maldivian players to play matches in India.
The match to be held at Ekuveni Number 01 field consists of the President’s team against Air India team, and would be played for 10 overs. The President’s team comprises of famous seasoned former players and government officials.
Included in the team is President of Cricket Board Aflah, Former President of Olympic Committee Ibrahim Ismail and the country’s best cricket player Moosa Kaleem. In the match held on Friday, Champa Hussain Afeef, Ahmed Naseem and Ibrahim Noordeen are participants.
Minister Mahloof stated that this is the beginning of the enhancement of the bond in sports between the two countries.
“This would be a joy for many Maldivians. India has always been our closest neighbour. I hope this cricket series would further strengthen the bond between the two countries, and would pave way for more opportunities in Maldivian sports.”
President of Cricket Board Aflah expressed his gratitude to the government’s encouragement towards development of Maldivian cricket.
Cricket has been immensely popular in Maldives with the 80-90 age group.
Many renowned clubs have their own cricket teams participating in tournaments, where many converge to watch them play.
Although cricket has been recently losing its popularity, tournaments are still taking place and the national team is competing in international tournaments. The Maldivian national team has won two championships in Asia.
Minister Mahloof stated that, in accordance to the current government’s target of developing the sports industry, new cricket fields would be constructed with the support of many contractors.
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