DUBAI: UAE’s budding cricketers were in for a treat as they got an opportunity to come up and close with former Pakistan cricketer and current UAE cricket coach Aaqib Javed during his recent visits to the Young Talent Cricket Academy grounds in Sharjah and Dubai.

Aaqib Javed, who has been entrusted the job of coaching the UAE national cricket team, took time out to inspect the training facilities available at the lush green YTCA Skyline College ground in Sharjah, followed by a visit to the  YTCA camp at the Pakistan Association in Dubai.

Shahzad Altaf, former member of the UAE World Cup 1996 team and organizer of YTCA, said he was overwhelmed with Aaqib Javed’s visit to the academy

“Aaqib Javed has been thoroughly impressed with the facilities available at the YTCA academies. He (Aaqib)has  stressed the need to have such academies to help build and groom talented players.” According to Shahzad, the former Pakistani pacer, who holds the record for being the youngest player to claim an ODI hat-trick, has requested that he be notified of talented players in the academy.

Aaqib was just 19 years and 81 days when he achieved the feat against India in October 1991. Aaqib was the member of Pakistan’s team which won the 1992 World Cup.