Kannur-born Sabeeja gets a spot on Qatar’s women’s cricket team at age 43 | Cricket news

By the age of 40, most athletes would have already retired or said goodbye to a career that was already at its peak – as 42-year-old West Indian cricket giant Chris Gayle did in the T20 World Cup.

But Sabeeja AP, 43, the former captain of the Kerala women’s cricket team, is at the height of her professional career, which began in 1989.

Sabee, a native of Keecher in the Kannur district of Kerala and now living in Doha, has been selected to Qatar’s national women’s cricket team in a three-match T20I series against visiting Nepal this month.

“It’s a dream come true,” the cheerful Sabeeja said on the phone from Doha.

He is the oldest member of a 15-member team announced by Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari, president of the Qatar Cricket Association, on Sunday.

Interestingly, Sabeeja student Saachi Dhadwal, the daughter of Mumbai natives, is also part of the team.

Sabeeja’s daughter Malawi, who was a district-level player – bowling off-spin just like her mother – is studying BDS in Mangalore.

Getting attention abroad
Sabeeja has been working as an operations coordinator at Cambridge International School in Doha since 2017.

After working as a coach for several years in Kerala, he continued to train young cricketers in Doha and completed a QCA level O certificate.

To stay fit, Sabeeja also played regularly. Qatar’s flexible cricket schedule, which was little affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, proved useful.

“Unlike in India, we don’t have district or state level matches. Here we play club level tournaments, which is a great way to develop your skills and stay fit, ”says Sabeeja.

His versatile performances were soon noticed, and he almost made the cut last year when teams from Kuwait and Oman visited. But because he was unable to meet the eligibility requirements for residence, Sabeeja remained an educator.

This year, however, Sabeeja hoped for a place on the team and it happened.

Cricket career
In Kerala, Sabeeja made an excellent career as a player, coach and later as a voter.

During his 17-year career as a player, he represented Kerala in the U-16, U-19 and senior categories. During her captain, the Kerala U-19 women’s cricket team reached the national championship for the first time.

He was an assistant to Robin Menon, a popular coach for the Kerala U-19 team, and also led the Kannuri district team before being appointed to the U-16 and U-19 selection committees.

Sabeeja worked as an assistant professor at Chinmaya College of Arts and Science for Women in Kannur when Doha played.

“When I was young, I had dreamed of playing in India, but it never came true. Now, at the age of 40, I have been given the opportunity to play for the Qatar national team and everything feels so surreal, Sabeeja said.

He wants to make the most of this opportunity and set an example for his younger teammates. “We have a good balance on the team and I hope my experience is useful.”

Qatar is scheduled to play three T20Is against Nepal on November 16, 17 and 18 at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha, and Sabee is not expected to start a new start in his career.