The UAE’s best young cricketers are preparing for the big stage as the Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament comes to town.

College students have the chance to showcase their skills in the international competition, which has previously unearthed talent for the professional ranks.

Played around the world, the event is the only global T20 cricket tournament for students and features participation from over 250 teams. The UAE qualifiers begin this Thursday with 10 universities from the region looking to be crowned champions.

The tournament is a great hunting ground for the Indian Premier League as teams will have an eye on emerging talent from the UAE. Previously, the IPL’s Gujarat Lions signed Dubai’s Chirag Suri after he impressed in the tournament. Suri was just 10-years-old when he moved to the UAE from India and went on to represent the UAE’s under-19 side in 2014, scoring 50 runs against New Zealand.

Suri grabbed the opportunity to play in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals in Sri Lanka last year. While there, he developed his skills and mixed with the likes of Sri Lanka batsman Niroshan Dickwella, and the pair became good friends.

“We’re friends now but I had a bit of a go at him once,” recalls 23-year-old Suri, “which happens when things are very competitive, but it was all in good spirit. It’s pretty incredible to see how many players are coming through these leagues, and going on to become IPL cricketers or international cricketers.”

The international spectacle has also seen the rise of Indian stars KL Rahul – who hit the fastest-ever IPL half-century for Kings XI Punjab on Sunday – and Karun Nair, who both went on to feature in the India national team after catching the eye during the event.

Other Red Bull Campus Cricket alumni include Shardul Thakur, Manan Vohra, Siddhesh Lad, Himanshu Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Anukul Roy, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ricky Bhui.

Roy featured heavily in India’s playing XI at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. The left-arm spinner helped India Under-19 win the title and emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker at the tournament with 14 scalps. Rana also featured in the team and played his part to help the Indians lift the trophy.

Teams quality to compete in the annual event by winning national qualifiers to then represent their countries at the World Finals. Heriot Watt University have won the previous three tournaments in the UAE.

Universities competing:

Heriot-Watt University
American University of Sharjah
Birla institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS PILANI)
Amity University
Manipal University
Skyline University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Emirates Aviation College
University of Wollongong
Middlesex University

Qualifiers: April 12th
Quarter-finals: April 13th
Semi-finals & finals: April 14th
Location: Eden Gardens Ajman