KARACHI: The acting chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi Cricket, Matthew Boucher has expressed immense satisfaction over the successful hosting of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches and hoped that it would pave the way for more high profile sporting events, in the UAE capital state of Abu Dhabi.
Talking to this correspondent, over the phone from Abu Dhabi, Matthew Boucher further said that he had been in touch with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for about three years for the PSL games.
“Abu Dhabi Formula One, international Golf tournament and FIFA club world cup followed by Abu Dhabi T20 extravaganza, in October last year, are highlights of Abu Dhabi’s sporting calendar. It will grow further with the addition of the Pakistan Super League”, Boucher, a member of Abu Dhabi sports council, hoped.
For the first time, Abu Dhabi hosted the Pakistan Super League with four games from March 4th to 5th this year.
Boucher, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in the U.K., keenly follows happenings around the cricketing world with an eye on Pakistan.
“I have been a great admirer of Pakistan Cricket over the years and a fan of Sarfraz Ahmed. My liking for wicketkeeper batsmen goes back to Adam Gilchrist, Matt Prior and Brandon Mccullam etc. Sarfraz is not only a good glove-man but a batsman who could change the course of the game with his crafty batting down the order”, Boucher said.
“My kid however is a fan of Hassan Ali and imitates his trademark celebration style while playing in the backyard”, Boucher shared.
Coming back to hosting high profile events, Matthew Boucher said that the Abu Dhabi sports council along with Abu Dhabi Cricket has been striving to chalk out a formidable sporting calendar with cricket as a significant article.
“We hosted the Abu Dhabi T20 league in October last year in which players from Pakistan, South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, New Zealand and England participated. That league went very well and will pave the way for more such tournaments in the future”, Boucher hoped.
The first edition of Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy was won by Pakistan’s “Lahore Qalandars” after beating South Africa’s “Titans” in the final.