Bahrain Cricket Federation Unveils Ambitious Vision to Develop Homegrown Talent and Position Kingdom as Regional Cricket Hub

Mohammad Mansoor calls for grassroots cricket development in government schools, stronger pathways for Bahraini boys and girls, and a comprehensive strategy for international excellence

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – 27 October 2026: Mohammad Mansoor, Advisory Board Chairman of the Bahrain Cricket Federation (BCF) and Executive Board Member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has emphasised that the future of Bahrain cricket must begin in the classrooms and playgrounds of the Kingdom, particularly in government schools, where young Bahraini boys and girls should be given the opportunity to discover, develop and pursue their cricketing potential.

Mansoor outlined this vision following discussions with BCF President Sami Mohammed Ali and members of the Federation’s Board, during which he stressed the importance of grassroots development, youth participation, professional cricket administration and long-term strategic planning. The discussions also followed the appointment of Dinesh Muthuraman as the Federation’s new Chief Executive Officer, a development Mansoor described as a significant milestone in Bahrain cricket’s journey towards becoming a professionally managed, internationally competitive and commercially sustainable sporting organisation.

Cricket Must Begin in Bahrain’s Classrooms Mansoor emphasised that creating a new generation of homegrown Bahraini cricketers must remain one of the Federation’s foremost priorities.

“The future of Bahrain cricket must begin in our schools. We want cricket to become a sport that every young Bahraini boy and girl has the opportunity to experience, enjoy and excel in. Our ambition is not simply to develop cricket teams, but to build a generation of Bahraini cricketers who can proudly represent the Kingdom on the international stage,” Mansoor stated.

He highlighted the importance of introducing structured cricket programmes in government schools, where early talent identification, qualified coaching and organised inter-school competitions could create a sustainable foundation for the sport. “Our vision is to establish a clear development pathway connecting schools, cricket academies, age-group competitions, domestic leagues and ultimately the Bahrain national teams.

Every talented young player, regardless of background, should have a fair opportunity to progress,” he added. Mansoor said the proposed initiative would be pursued in coordination with the relevant government authorities, educational institutions and sporting organisations, in alignment with the youth and sports development vision of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whose leadership and continued commitment to sporting excellence have inspired the development of young athletes across the Kingdom. Developing Bahraini Talent and Expanding Women’s Cricket A central pillar of the Federation’s long-term vision is to increase the participation of Bahraini nationals in cricket, creating opportunities for young players to progress through structured development programmes.

Mansoor stressed that cricket should evolve beyond its traditional participation base and become an increasingly inclusive sport embraced by the wider Bahraini community. “Our ultimate success will be measured by how many young Bahrainis take up cricket, how many talented players progress through our development system, and how many eventually wear the Bahrain national jersey with pride,” he said. He also highlighted women’s cricket as a major development priority, calling for greater opportunities for Bahraini girls to participate in school cricket, dedicated coaching programmes, competitive tournaments and national team pathways. The Federation’s broader grassroots ambitions will include developing local coaches, umpires, scorers and cricket administrators, ensuring that Bahrain builds not only a strong player base but also the technical and professional expertise required to sustain the sport.

New CEO to Strengthen Professional Administration and High-Performance Cricket Mansoor welcomed the appointment of Dinesh Muthuraman as Chief Executive Officer, noting that his extensive international cricket administration experience would bring valuable expertise to the Federation. Dinesh brings approximately 18 years of experience with the Malaysian Cricket Association, having progressed through development and executive leadership roles. His international experience includes involvement in major cricket events such as the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games.

Mansoor expressed confidence that the new CEO would play an important role in translating the Federation’s strategic ambitions into measurable outcomes. “Professional leadership, strong governance and systematic planning are essential if Bahrain is to compete successfully at higher levels of international cricket. With the appointment of our new CEO, we have an important opportunity to strengthen our administration, enhance player development and build a sustainable cricket ecosystem,” he said. The Federation intends to place particular emphasis on a comprehensive high-performance framework covering men’s, women’s and youth cricket.

Key areas of focus will include advanced coaching structures, sports science, player fitness, performance analysis, international training exposure, talent identification and stronger competitive pathways. The strategy will also seek to establish partnerships with established cricketing nations and leading training institutions to provide Bahrain’s players and coaches with access to international expertise. Positioning Bahrain as a Regional and International Cricket Destination Beyond grassroots development and national team performance, Mansoor outlined an ambitious vision to establish Bahrain as a preferred regional destination for international cricket tournaments, bilateral series, high-performance training camps and cricket-related events.

He noted that Bahrain’s strategic geographical location, modern infrastructure, international connectivity and growing sporting profile provide significant advantages in attracting regional and international cricket activities.

“Bahrain has all the ingredients to emerge as an important cricketing hub in the Gulf and wider Asian region. What we must now do is build the right infrastructure, professional systems, international relationships and commercial partnerships to transform this potential into reality,” Mansoor said.

The Federation will explore opportunities to invite international teams to Bahrain for bilateral competitions, preparatory camps and multi-nation tournaments, while progressively strengthening facilities and event-hosting capabilities.

Mansoor also emphasised the importance of cricket infrastructure, including quality playing grounds, turf wickets, indoor training facilities and supporting amenities that meet the requirements of modern competitive cricket. He said that developing such facilities would benefit national teams, schoolchildren, community cricket, corporate competitions and visiting international teams alike. Corporate Partnerships and Commercial Sustainability Mansoor identified commercial development as another essential component of the Federation’s long-term strategy.

He said the BCF would seek to strengthen engagement with Bahrain’s corporate sector, potential sponsors, strategic investors and international cricket stakeholders to create sustainable funding opportunities.

“Modern cricket development requires more than passion and commitment. It requires financial sustainability, professional management, corporate partnerships and a clear long-term vision,” he stated.

The Federation aims to explore new sponsorship models, commercial cricket events, strategic partnerships and revenue-generating opportunities that can support grassroots development, national team programmes and infrastructure investment. Mansoor highlighted that the private sector could play an important role in supporting school cricket initiatives, youth competitions, women’s cricket and international events as part of broader corporate social responsibility and sports development programmes.

A Long-Term Vision for Bahrain Cricket Reflecting on the Federation’s direction, Mansoor stressed that the next phase of Bahrain cricket must be built on inclusiveness, professionalism, international competitiveness and sustainable growth. He said the Federation’s aspirations extend beyond improving international rankings and winning tournaments, with a broader commitment to making cricket an integral part of Bahrain’s sporting culture.

“We want to see Bahraini children playing cricket in their schools, young talents progressing into professional development programmes, our national teams competing confidently against stronger international opponents, and Bahrain hosting prestigious cricket events that bring recognition to the Kingdom,” Mansoor said.

He further emphasised that close cooperation among the Federation, government authorities, schools, corporate partners and the cricketing community would be essential to achieving these objectives.

“As a member of the Asian Cricket Council Executive Board, I also recognise the tremendous opportunities available for developing cricket across emerging nations. Bahrain must be ambitious, innovative and proactive in utilising these opportunities to strengthen our position within Asian and international cricket,” he added.

Concluding, Mansoor reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with BCF President Sami Mohammed Ali, the Board of Directors, newly appointed CEO Dinesh Muthuraman and all stakeholders to advance the Federation’s vision.

“Our mission is clear: to build cricket from the grassroots, nurture Bahraini talent, empower women and youth, strengthen our national teams, and establish the Kingdom of Bahrain as a respected and progressive cricketing nation. We are not merely planning for the next tournament; we are building the foundation for the next generation.”