Desert Cubs Cricket Academy to embark on Sri Lanka summer tour

A bigger challenge awaits youngsters of the Desert Cubs Cricket Academy (DCCA) during their forthcoming summer tour of Sri Lanka.
The DCCA squad comprising 80 players from age groups under 11 to under 18 will test their mettle and temperament playing two-day matches against top school teams in Sri Lanka.
“The biggest challenge on this tour is to last 40 or 50 overs. Every team will have two-day matches. There we can test calibre of our kids and see who can get adapted to the longer version,” said DCCA head coach Presley Polonnowita who thanked Dubai Duty Free,Matco Packaging and Barakat for being the main sponsors of their tour.
DCCA will take a squad of comprising five age groups(-11 -13,-15 and -18 mixed) for their sixth tour of Sri Lanka having made their first visit in 2009. They will play matches in Galle, Kandy and Colombo during their tour from 4th to 16th July.

“Here (UAE) we very rarely play 50 overs. At under 15 level,it is big ask in Sri Lanka with standards almost touching division one cricket. When we were playing at age 15 we were playing division one. It was very tough cricket,” said Polonnowita, a former Sri Lanka international.
“I would like to see how these kids adapt to staying at the wicket for 50 or 60 overs and scoring 100 or 150 runs.Converting this shorter game mind setting into longer format. That’s the challenge,” he said.
Andrew Russell, National Development Manager of Emirates Cricket Board, was on hand to present caps to the excited youngsters at a ceremony on Friday evening at Sharjah English School.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for the youngsters to go an experience the game in a different condition to UAE. I know the standard in Sri Lanka is very good and it is always good to test yourself against better overall standard. It’s a great opportunity for the guys to learn the key things you need to know to become a well-rounded cricketer in terms of how to play on different pitches and against different opposition,” he said.
Desert Cubs will be up against top schools in Sri Lanka such as Richmond, Mahinda and St Servatius in Galle; St Anthony’s, Trinity and Kingswood in Kandy; and Royal and St Peter’s among others teams in Colombo.

“We are planning to bring some of legends of Sri Lanka cricket like Aravinda de Silvato speak to the boys and give them some tips,” said Polonnowita who was one of the outstanding schoolboy cricketers Sri Lanka has produced.

Among the players to watch in the DCCA squad is Macneil Hadley Noronha, who aggregated a record 1,740 runs last season playing in UAE and India in the Under 16 zonal selections for Karnataka state.
Apart from Macneil, DCCA also have in their midst Waruna Perera, who captained UAE at the Under 19 World Cup. Then there is Neil Lobo, who was adjudged the best Under 16 player at the Shyam Bhatia awards and Ashley Lobo who hit a century at senior level in the Ramadan tournament. In addition, there are two girls in Under 15 squad – Shivani Sathe and Esha Oza, who has represented UAE women’s team. The top junior talent to watch out for are under 13 captain Shoun Rogers, Ayan Khan and Hardik Pai.

DCCA has emerged as one of the leading academies in the Gulf striving for excellence and creating pathways for kids to attain their dream of representing their country of birth.
“Every year we take them to a Test playing country to add that exposure. What exactly a kid needs when he reaches to top level of cricket, what are challenges he will have to facewhen he plays against a Test playing country. To do that from under 11 or under 13 age itself is a good thing. They have enough time to work to top level. Within four or five years they will understand exactly what they needto become a top level player,” said Polonnowita explaining the objectives of such tours.

“It’s a different level of cricket in Australia,Sri Lanka and India. We are planning to create bridges with all countries at district level for our kids. Most of them are looking forward to playing for their own countryat 15 or 16 like Macneil who would like to get into their (Karnataka) state team. Each and every country run their country in different way but if you have proper foundation anyone can build on that. That’s what I’m trying to do until age of 16. My main focus at academy level is till under 16. That is the age we can give them 200 per cent time,” said Polonnowita outlining DDCA’s ambition to provide a feeder to national teams.
“Deserts Cubs as an organisation has made a nameas one of top academies in region. I don’t want to stop here. I want to take Desert Cubs and UAE cricket to a different level to match up with other international or Test playing countries. If I can take my academy to a next level,the all other academies will follow us and come to that level. Ultimately UAE cricket will benefit in the long run,” said Polonnowita who sees UAE cricket closing the gap on Test playing nations specially in one-day and T20s formats within the next decade.