When former UAE women’s captain Chaya Mughal addressed young cricketers at the inauguration of the RSR Scholarship Programme, her message was simple but powerful: don’t give up, stay persistent and finish what you start. As the programme now moves into its decisive final stage, those words resonate more than ever.
Over this week, shortlisted players have been taking part in the Stage 5 match trials, the final hurdle in a process that has tested not just skill, but attitude, discipline and commitment. After four rigorous stages held across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, only those who consistently impressed the coaches and evaluators have earned the right to compete for the scholarships.
Mughal had urged the youngsters to show courage in difficult moments, to push for “one minute longer” when the instinct is to quit, and to give their chosen sport time and heart. She also highlighted the importance of persistence – turning up regularly, training through weekends and holidays – and building character by celebrating teammates’ success rather than being consumed by individual milestones.
That mindset is exactly what the final stage is designed to reveal. With match situations replacing drills, selectors will be watching how players respond under pressure, how they compete, and how they carry themselves within a team environment. Performance, temperament and attitude will all be under the spotlight with former India all-rounder Robin Singh keenly watching the proceedings.
The Stage 5 match trials will be held from January 19 to 24, with age-wise schedules already communicated to parents. The U15 trials will take place on Monday, January 19, and Wednesday, January 21, at the DIP Ocean Fair Ground from 8am to 1pm. The U19 category will be in action on Tuesday, January 20, and Thursday, January 22, at the same venue and timings. The U11 trials are scheduled for Friday, January 23, with venue and time to be announced shortly.
Those who progress will have emerged from a process that has seen strong participation and a high overall standard, with each candidate individually evaluated across all four previous stages. For many of these young players, this week represents more than just selection. It is a chance to translate months of effort into opportunity – and to show that they have absorbed the values spoken about at the programme’s launch: resilience, persistence, teamwork and playing with heart.
As Mughal reminded them, heroes are not only those who score the runs or take the wickets, but those who hang on when it gets tough. Over the next few days, the RSR Scholarship hopefuls will get their chance to prove they can do exactly that.