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THE kingdom's national cricket team has bounced back from disgrace by winning its division in the International Cricket Council league just two years after ending a tournament ban.
And one Bahraini family, passionate about the bat and ball game, are dreaming of the day when the island's team reaches the 2015 Cricket World Cup and the sport is valued as highly as the kingdom's favourite - football.
Aref Sadeq, vice-president of the Bahrain Cricket Association (BCA) and owner of Aref Sadeq Design Consultants Group, said: "In our family we have two hobbies, our work that deals with creativity and architecture and setting up Bahrain as a cricketing nation.
"My most memorable project has been to establish the kingdom as a cricketing nation and it has taken us over 25 years to officially register the Bahrain Cricket Association."
Following in the footsteps of his late father, Mohammed Sadeq, one of the founders of cricket in the kingdom in the 1930s, Aref aims to keep the game alive despite setbacks that Bahrain had faced in the past.
Mohammed Ali Abul, president of the BCA, said: "There was corruption in the association about two to three years ago and we were banned from participating in any tournaments by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
"There were some internal problems but we returned to the games in 2007. The Bahrain Cricket Association is the only body approved by the General Organisation for Youth and Sports (Goys), the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) under the patronage of Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and affiliated to the ACC and International Cricket Council (ICC).
"The ICC, which has its headquarters in Dubai, is the international governing body of cricket. It is responsible for the organisation and governance of cricket's major international tournaments, most notably the Cricket World Cup.
"Before the ban Bahrain was in Division 2 and after the ban we had to start from the beginning once again.
"But we are not concerned as we have been inspired by Aref Sadeq, cricket specialist and our guide, who has played the game and donated a lot of his time and money to build up the sport."
No truer words were spoken as the Bahrain team is making a comeback on the international stage. Not only have they beaten Afghanistan in the ACC Middle East Cup earlier this year, the Bahrain team recently won the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 held in Guernsey, United Kingdom, and will be playing their first match in Division 6 in Singapore on August 29.
Other teams in Division 6 include Singapore, Norway, Guernsey, Botswana and Malaysia.
Team captain Yaser Sadeq, 33, son of Aref, has great confidence in his team and their capabilities.
He said: "Cricket is the sport I love and grew up with. My brother Fahad, 31, and I would watch our father and eight uncles every week playing cricket until we picked it up ourselves. We would stand on the side and mimic their every move.
"Cricket is a very delicate game. It is like playing a chess game on the field. It is very strategic with many moves so that you do not get bored."
"I am a fast bowler.
"Our goal since the setback is to keep working towards reaching the 2015 World Cup. We have the ability and the potential so nothing really is standing in our way. The only factor is how badly we want it and how hard we will work for it.
"Also, depending on our performance during the tournaments and the further we climb up the ladder in divisions, we are given enough funding to help improve our facilities and assist us in all the training we need.
"The ICC wants to encourage the teams that have potential to grow further."
Other tournaments on the horizon are the Asian 20-20 in November 2009 in the UAE and the qualifiers for the 2010 Asian Games. Bahrain will also be organising a tour for the Bahrain A team to be played in 2009-2010 for young and promising players.
Mr Abul added: "You know we have many people that play cricket in Bahrain but most are expatriates and many partake in the BCA league games that happen every Friday. We hope to recruit more Bahrainis though into the game."
The BCA has recently established the Bahrain National Cricket Academy at Al Najma Club to prepare for upcoming international events held by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and International Cricket Council (ICC).
These events will be held in various parts of the world for boys and girls under 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, Bahrain A team, ladies and a senior team all of which are currently being selected.
Mr Abul, Aref Sadeq and Mohammed Sadeq donated approximately BD25,000 to complete the academy. The two turf pitches, in addition to the existing four cement/artificial turf wickets, will be ready by mid-August. Further, equipment such as bowling machines, video analysis software, physical fitness and testing equipments will also be installed shortly.
There are further plans to build a stadium with funds raised through the growth of the team.
The coaching in the academy will be conducted by well-known former Pakistani Test cricketer Mohsin Kamal, who is an ACC Level 3 approved trainer and has coached the Bangladesh national team for the 2003 World Cup and at the Pakistan National Cricket Academy (PNCA).
He is also the national team coach who has taken them into Division 6.
Kamal said: "I think we have a very good team that is well-rounded in terms of batting and bowling. One concern is this sport depends on experience and training so we need to prepare the younger players to step into the shoes of the seniors. The youngest players we have are in their 20s and the rest are in their 30s. This is the average age. We are planning on travelling to Saudi and the UAE to play a few games and develop ourselves further."
Like in most sports though, teams do require funding. Hence the national team is looking for sponsors that can add to the growth of cricket in the kingdom, carrying on the Sadeq family dream.
Also for those cricket aficionados interested in registering themselves or children in the academy contact the BCA at cricbah@batelco.com.bh, the national coach on 39197420 or the assistant national coach & BNCA in-charge Azeem ul Haq at 39868885, azeem_ulhaque@yahoo.com.
The registration started on July 1 and the coaching will begin on August 1 at Al Najma Club. There will be special coaching programme planned for Bahraini nationals as well.
