Qatar boost for cricket

Dear Sir,

The scheduled Pakistan  Super Twenty20 League in February next year is a big step in bringing international cricket to Qatar. It is another feather in the cap of the Qatar  Olympic Committee in holding international sporting events and a great boost to the development of cricket in the state. Both  the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Cricket Association deserve all credit for making this possible.
This will  establish Qatar as a new cricket venue and  hub of the world.
Here are a few suggestions to the Qatar  Olympic Committee and the League organisers:
♦ A few  players from Qatar’s national cricket team and promising young cricketers should be associated with the various teams (four or five players each) to attend the League’s training and practice sessions and be part of the franchisees. Not necessarily playing for the teams. Their interaction and mingling with international players will be an invaluable experience for them in the nets and will serve the cause of cricket in Qatar.
♦ A few schoolchildren from various expatriate schools taking part in local inter-school cricket matches should also be involved with the teams in some form - again to learn and experience the international cricket environment.
♦ A few international players who will be participating should be requested to visit schools in Qatar and give some cricket tips to children. Coaching trips to some of the schools and interaction with  children may also be considered.
♦ Locals  who have  advanced umpiring course certificates should be made fourth or fifth umpires on the field to assist the main umpires. There are even women umpires in Qatar who can be associated to gain some important exposure of international cricket.
♦ Schoolchildren drawn from various expatriate schools who have represented their schools in local cricket should be given a chance to be the ball boys outside the boundaries.
♦ Maybe in future there can be a Qatari franchisee team taking part in the League and it could consist of some local players as well.
The event is an eagerly-awaited one for cricket enthusiasts like me. The opportunity that will be provided by this cricket extravaganza should be made full use of in promoting Qatar as a future cricket destination.
A small step in this direction was taken in the past by bringing in some former cricketing greats and that effort has now borne fruit.
Thank you Qatar Olympic Committee and may you succeed in bringing in more international cricketing events to this wonderful sports loving country.
Hopeful of a very successful event.
Tariq W Kureishy, PO Box 22103, Doha

A formula for happiness

Dear Sir,

The article, “Your prescription for happiness” (Gulf Times,  September 6) tackled an interesting topic.   
It was Mahatma Gandhi who once said: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” How true.
Excessive fear of the future and brooding over the past deprive us from being happy in the present. If one thinks that only after fulfilling one’s goals such as completing the studies, getting a job or becoming rich, one can be happy, it means that one loses the present happiness.
One, who is able to smile despite facing failures, disappointments and losses, can be the real winner in the contest to win happiness. Those who feel ecstatic when success is in their favour should be able to face failures boldly as both are not permanent.
Finally, real  happiness lies in helping and giving others at least a small  part of one’s possession as God expects each human to reduce the burden of any other needy person.
What cannot be ended in life should be endured, whatever it is. Then, life will no longer be a burden.
C Robinson, robin_son_ch@yahoo.co.in

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