Kavisha Kumari hoping FairBreak stardust will rub off on UAE cricket

Judging by their exquisite 83-run partnership for UAE against Hong Kong on Wednesday night, Kavisha Kumari and Theertha Satish share a fine understanding.

For now, that is for the benefit of the national team. Their alliance in the first game in Ajman extended UAE’s winning sequence to 11 matches, which is the longest ongoing run in women’s T20 international cricket at present.

Next week, Kumari is hoping their affinity can be put to good use again, even though they will be on opposing sides at the FairBreak Invitational in Dubai.

Kumari, a 19-year-old all-rounder, is chuffed to be part of the Barmy Army side at the new, six-team T20 competition. Especially as it means she will get to play alongside Laura Wolvaardt, the South African batter.

Still, though, she is hopeful her UAE national team colleague Theertha might be able to smuggle her into her own dressing room at least once during the course of the event.

“I am fortunate enough to have Laura in my team,” Kumari said.

“I was looking forward to being alongside her. Also, I am Sri Lankan so I was hoping to be in the same team as Chamari Athapaththu so she could mentor me.

“I wanted to learn from her and eat her brain a bit. Unfortunately, she is in another team [the Falcons].

"She is in Theertha’s team, so I will be going along with Theertha and ask her to introduce me, saying, ‘Hi Chamari, how are you?’

UAE's Kavisha Kumari during the T20 against Hong Kong at the Ajman Oval. Pawan Singh / The National

“I want to pick her brain. A cricketer like her, coming from Sri Lanka, is a big thing for me. I always look up her innings. She is a power-hitter, just beautiful to watch.”

Four UAE players – Kumari, Theertha, Esha Oza and Chaya Mughal – are confirmed participants for