Sharjah. The final of the 49th edition of the Bukhatir League had a special guest at the prize distribution ceremony held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium – Abdul Rehman Salah Bukhatir, the grandson of Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, in whose name the UAE’s oldest cricket tournament has been held for nearly half a century. Abdul Rehman Salah watched the entire final — which ended well past midnight — with a smile that proudly reflected the legacy and passion of his grandfather and the entire Bukhatir family.
Soon after the final, I had the privilege of interviewing Abdul Rehman Salah for Cricketlovers.com. Having previously interviewed the legendary Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, his sons Khalaf Bukhatir (CEO of Sharjah Cricket), and Waleed Bukhatir (Emirates Cricket Board member), this interaction with Abdul Rehman Salah felt both nostalgic and special. I have reported on the Bukhatir league for thirty years without a break.
What surprised me most was the humility of Abdul Rehman Salah — a hallmark trait of the Bukhatir family. When asked how it felt to be part of one of the oldest cricket tournaments in the world — only behind Mumbai’s Kanga League (founded in 1948) and Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (1953–54), and the longest-running event in an Associate nation — he didn’t begin by talking about its history. Instead, his first response was to acknowledge my decades of reporting on the league. He began by saying, “First of all, thank you for covering the Bukhatir League for all these years, and that too every match. You have written the history of this event.”
Though I’ve always considered it a professional duty to report on local cricket, to be acknowledged by the youngest member of the Bukhatir family — who is now stepping in to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy — will remain as indelible as the many memories I have from this league.
In today’s world, where not remembering the past has become a norm, his words stood out. They reflected a deeply ingrained value passed down through generations of the Bukhatir family. At a time when cricket events are increasingly viewed through a commercial lens, a simple word of appreciation for chronicling the journey of this league felt more gratifying than scoring a century or taking a five-wicket haul.
Abdul Rehman Salah continued: “When the first edition of this tournament was held, I wasn’t even born. But from what I’ve seen over the years, the performance levels and competitiveness have only increased. I’m sure my grandfather must be feeling proud and happy that his hard work in creating such a tournament is bearing fruit. It’s now our duty to carry forward what he started.”
He expressed delight that the Bukhatir League has become a prominent platform for domestic cricketers to showcase their skills, and spoke of his family’s deep gratitude towards the players who have upheld the high standards of the tournament. He acknowledged the journey from the cement pitches of Al Khan on the Dubai-Sharjah highway to the lush green outfield of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium — a ground built by his grandfather in the early 1980s.
“My grandfather’s goal was always to serve the game,” he said. “The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series was launched to help cricketers and promote the sport. This stadium was born out of his passion for cricket. One thing I’ve observed is that he loves this game more than anything else. The dedication shown by teams every year has made him proud, as they’ve always played with intensity and respected the value of this tournament.”
How does he feel about the upcoming 50th edition? “Very proud,” he said. “In fact, the first thing I did upon arriving for the final was to discuss the 50th edition with Mazhar Khan (General Manager, Sharjah Cricket). It has to be something special.”
During the prize-giving ceremony, Abdul Rehman Salah and Mazhar Khan presented a memento to coach Gopal Jasapara and me. The extensive coverage of the 49th edition of the Bukhatir League was carried out through Cricketlovers.com and the YouTube channel launched by Jasapara.
Like his grandfather, who always highlighted the importance of players, Abdul Rehman Salah also thanked all the participating teams. “I would like to thank not just GHK Properties, who won the title this year, and Seven Districts, the runners-up, but all the teams for making this edition a resounding success. I sincerely hope the coming years will witness the same intensity we’ve seen in every match.”
And finally, will the Bukhatir League continue for another 100 years? “The fact that this league is being held for half a decade is a huge achievement. So it is most important to carry on the work started by my grandfather ensuring this platform for cricketers remains forever,” remarked a proud Abdul Rahman Salah.
