Cricket in Yemen remains the undiscovered indigenous oasis in the game's Middle East development.

While cricket in Yemen's more recognised Persian Gulf neighbours remains unmistakenly the preserve of their respective expatriate populations, the Yemen Cricket Association has been successful in introducing the game to the local Arabs.

Although it is true that the majority of players in Yemen's eight cricket teams learned their cricket on the subcontinent, it is the Yemenis on whom the Yemen Cricket Association is basing its future.

"We have about 25 Yemenis playing the game, of which about eight are very good players," Masroor Alam Siddiqui, YCA secretary since the body's inception in 1994 said.

The YCA is also looking at introducing the game to Sana'a's local university next year.

With an eye to gaining membership of the Asian Cricket Council, the YCA has assigned Pakistani coach, Wasi Haider, the task of overseeing the development of the players in the YCA's two all Yemeni teams.

Those teams have in the past competed in the YCA's eight team league, suspended this year, while a new ground being built on land donated by the country's Minister of Sports is completed. Expected time of completion is February. (The old ground has been converted into an indoor sports stadium).

Yemen's eight clubs are Pakistan CC, Pakistan Tigers CC, Pakistan Green CC, Indian CC, India Apex CC, Yemen CC, Yemen United CC and Arabian CC. Pakistan CC has won the main league competition for the last three years.

In past seasons, the teams have competed in the Sana'a based 25-overs-per-side leagues, during a season which starts in March, going through to November.

Some of the Indian and Pakistani teams have included imported players who play cricket in Yemen in return for employment. Most tournaments are sponsored by local businesses.

The successful introduction of Yemenis to the game and the construction of a purpose built stadium indicates the intent of the YCA, but it needs outside help.

The hard work of men such as Mr. Siddiqui and Life President, Sheikh Tariq Abdullah has the influential support of the Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the YCA, the British Ambassador to Yemen.

The type of recognition given to fellow Arab cricketing countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman would be valuable for an Association keenly establishing indigenous roots.

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