Dubai witnessed a landmark evening for youth cricket development as former Indian international Robin Singh honoured 16 emerging cricketers under the Robin Sports Relations (RSR) Cricket Scholarship Programme.
The ceremony, held at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Deira Creek, brought together school principals, physical education heads, UAE cricketers and distinguished guests. His Excellency Sheikh Ali Bin Rashed Ali Saeed Al Maktoum attended as Chief Guest and personally presented the awards.
The scholarship initiative, in collaboration with GEMS Education, offers a structured pathway for talented school cricketers across the UAE. From 125 applicants, 16 players were chosen after an intensive selection process supervised by international-level coaches.
The programme offers:
- One-year professional cricket scholarship
- International exposure tours
- Premium cricket apparel and equipment
- Opportunities to train with English county teams
- Access to global T20 franchise league scouts
The elite coaching panel includes cricket stalwarts:
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- Debashish Mohanty
- T Kumaran
Sheikh Ali praised the growing cricket ecosystem in the UAE, noting the impact of tournaments like the DP World ILT20 and the nation’s presence at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Lokesh Reddy of Delhi Private School, Sharjah emerged as the top-ranked scholar, earning a full tuition refund, while Advay Ghosh of GEMS Modern Academy secured second place.
Several other awardees represented prominent institutions across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, highlighting the strong grassroots participation in the emirates.
Robin Singh, who previously served as Director of Cricket for the UAE national team, emphasized that the scholarship addresses structural gaps in player development while blending academic excellence with sporting ambition.
With plans to expand cricket and fitness academies across the UAE, RSR Sports LLC also announced that the next round of scholarship registrations will open on February 16, 2026.
The initiative marks a significant step toward building a sustainable cricket talent pipeline in the UAE.
