PORTUGAL'S CRICKETERS.

The Portuguese national squad which won the ECC Trophy in Vienna, August 2001. Back row: Richard Holdsworth (coach), Dinesh Maughi Carlo Buccimazza, Nadeem Butt, Quetan Quimji, Edward Chambers, Paulo Buccimazza, Jay da Costa, Peter Eckersley (manager) Seated: Humayun Shahzad, Ramesh Bhagavne, Akbar Saiyad, Intesab Mehdi, Camlesh Ramchande, Torben Rankine Kneeling: Hussein Cheema & Moisin Saiyad (cameraman)

Portuguese captain Akbar Saiyad holds the ECC Trophy after his side's victory in the final against Austria on 18th August 2001 in Seebarn, Vienna. After 7 years of highly successful captaincy both at Club & national level, Akbar continues to dominate the Portuguese cricketing scene and maintains a level of fitness which is the envy of many players who are half his age. A veritable Peter Pan of local cricket he offers no sign or reason for what would surely be a premature retirement.

Torben Rankine, vice-captain of the national side since 1999 & captain of the indoor VI in all E.C.C. Indoor Championships since 1998.

Carlo Buccimazza captained the Oeiras team which won the Gauntlett Trophy for the Lisbon Area Indoor League in 99/00. And were runners-up in 2000/01. A member of the national squad (indoor & outdoor) he also captains the Oeiras CC side.

The Amadora VI who won the Gauntlett Trophy for 6-a-side indoor cricket in 2000/01.

Camlesh Ramchande, a bowler with genuine pace who strikes fear into the hearts of many a batsmen in the Portuguese national league. a stalwart of the national squad who has played in the last 4 E.C.C. Trophy competitions

Jay da Costa burst onto the Portuguese cricketing scene in 2000 and quickly established himself as No 1 choice wicketkeeper. His ever sharp sense of humour and dry wit made him a popular team member both in the national squad and his club side Carcavelos

Ed Chambers was the only Oporto based player to gain national selection in 2000 & again in 2001. A strike bowler and middle order batsmen, Ed is currently studying modern languages at Leeds University.

Intesab Mehdi is something of a cricketing enigma in Portugal. An extremely talented all rounder who bowls tight & accurate off spin and whose batting can and often has dictated the course of a match, Voted player of the Tournament in both the "B" section at the ECC Championships in Scotland in 2000 and in the E.C.C. Trophy Competition in Austria in August 2001.

Nadeem Butt has been a regular in the Portuguese national side since he first qualified in 1997. A powerful hitter of the ball who has demoralised many bowling attacks he plays league cricket for A.C.C. His performances in the 2001 season have been unprecedented where by mid-July he had scored 3 centuries and a double century in local Lisbon league cricket. His double century (220 not out) came from 35 overs and contained 19 fours & 16 sixes and ranks with the best as the finest display of belligerent batting ever witnessed in Portugal.

Humayun Shahzad, a native of Pakistan who has lived in Portugal for several years and become almost an automatic choice in any representative team. a talented and gentle mannered all rounder he plays league cricket for A.C.C.

Paulo Buccimazza (19) has recently returned to Portugal after a spell at Lord's as a trainee and invitee of the ECDO. His batting technique and application have impressed many this season and there is optimism that he can convert success at league level into similar success at international level. As a cover point fielder he is unrivalled in Portugal and his performances there were a significant feature of Portugals' success in Austria.

Ramesh Bagvane has been a permanent fixture in the Portuguese national squad since 1993, Ramesh exhibited his class by taking the man-of-the-match award in Portugal's dramatic win over Israel in Anniesland at the E.C.C. Championships with a faultless batting performance and a spell of accurate and economical off-spin bowling.

Dinesh Maughi has been a stalwart of the Portuguese side for several seasons and his hostile pace bowling has earned him a reputation as a feared opponent. As a lower order bat, he is capable of knocking up quick runs at the end of an innings and in the field, it is either an unwitting or foolhardy batsman who attempts to take an extra run when Dinesh is about to throw in from the deep

Hussein Cheema is a newcomer to the Portuguese national squad in 2001 having at last passed the 5 year residence qualification requirement with 5 seasons of stalwart service to Lisbon Casuals & Oeiras C.C. An all rounder who hits the ball with tremendous power when the occasion demands it, Cheema is also known to bowl a teasing mixture of medium pace seamers and off-cutters which bring him regular 3, 4 & 5 wicket hauls in the Lisbon league. His fielding skills are legendary and he has the amazing knack of popping up at the right place to pouch those all important catches.

Quetan Quimji made a belated debut to international cricket at the E.C.C. Trophy in Austria but having been on the local scene as a middle order batsman for several seasons, he has only this year come to prominence and caught the selectorial eye with a series of high scores for his club side CHP"A".

Nelson Ferreira has been a stalwart of Portuguese cricket since his return from South Africa in 1996. Playing League cricket for Oeiras and Indoor for Benfica his most significant contributions have been as a valued member of the national Indoor Squad in successive ECC Tournaments in France, Belgium, Spain & Portugal.