Abu Dhabi: The first UAE Exchange Media Ashes series came to a tantalising close with a lot of interaction between the media fraternity of the UAE and India, namely the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai (SJAM), over a festive gala dinner hosted by Dr B R Shetty.
The noted philanthropist, businessman and managing director of the New Medical Centre (NMC) along with UAE Exchange Dr B R Shetty, said at the dinner at Foodlands on Wednesday night: “It was a pleasure to be part of a unique start between Indian and UAE media and we would love to be the hosts again. UAE and India have shared lot of history, especially those built on cricketing ties, and we are glad to be a part of it.”
Dr Shetty handed over attractive trophies, starting out with the impressive Tea Pot trophy for the winners, UAE Media, who won the cricket series 2-1 after coming back strongly from narrow four-wicket loss in the first game at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
A 42-run win in the second match at the ICC Academy ground was a strong comeback and then UAE Media came back against all odds to defend a lowly 108-run target at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The visiting SJAM team, however, managed to get a consolation victory in a one-off football match to sign off the tour on a winning note. Unaccustomed to the heat conditions, they received a Falcon trophy to show for their fortitude even as the host stadia extended the best of facilities under lights with support from co-sponsors NMC, Danube Home, Shyam Bhatia Cricket for Care, G-Force Academy, Red Bull, Almarai and Kerala Thanima.
The two sets of individual awards were presented by Danube Home. Gopal Jasapara was the Danube player of the tournament for UAE Media along with teammates Ak Satish (best batsman) and Fahad Hussain (best bowler).
For SJAM, Sanjeev Samyal (Danube player of the tournament), Satish Vishwanathan (best batsman) and Subodh Mayure (best bowler) took the plaudits.
Caption:UAE Media team members – from left, Kumar Shyam, KR Nayar, N.D Prashant, captain Amith Passela, Gopal Jasapara, AK Satish, Jaideep Marar and Jaiprasad Rai – accepting the trophy from Dr B.R Shetty, third from right.
