ABU DHABI: From a four-year-old inspired by his elder brother to earning selection for UAE Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10, emerging UAE cricketer Uddish Suri’s journey reflects years of dedication, family support and guidance from the coaches who helped shape his career.
Suri’s interest in cricket began when he watched his elder brother practise and compete after being selected for a school Under-7 tournament at the age of five. Often wearing his brother’s cricket gear and imitating him, Uddish gradually developed his own passion for the game before joining the same tournament and beginning formal training.
Young Talent Cricket Academy (YTCA) became the foundation of his cricketing development. Under the guidance of his first coaches, Shahzad Altaf, widely known as Shahzad Sir, and Prashant Sir, Suri developed his technical skills, discipline, confidence and understanding of competitive cricket.
Shahzad Altaf played a particularly important role in his progress, helping him refine his batting technique, improve his bowling and strengthen his mental approach to the game. His coaching emphasised consistency, learning from mistakes and remaining composed under pressure.
Suri regularly represented YTCA in Emirates Cricket Board tournaments and eventually captained the academy’s team. The experience helped him develop leadership skills and decision-making abilities that would later prove valuable when he was appointed captain of Sharjah in the Under-19 State Tournament.
Beyond technical coaching, Shahzad Sir remained a mentor and trusted adviser throughout Suri’s development, continuing to support him as he progressed into domestic competitions, UAE age-group teams and franchise cricket.
Suri has credited both his first coaches for their contribution to his career, describing Shahzad Sir as a father figure whose guidance extended beyond the cricket field.
His family has also played a central role in his progress. His parents regularly attended his matches, supported his training and travelled with him to competitions, often enduring extreme summer temperatures in the UAE to watch him play.
Their continued encouragement, according to the account of his journey, helped him remain focused through the challenges of competitive cricket.
Suri’s hard work eventually earned him selection for the United Arab Emirates at Under-16 level, followed by progression into the UAE Under-19 setup. His international experience included a tour of Bangladesh, a tri-series involving Pakistan and Afghanistan, and appearances in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup.
During the tri-series, he finished as the UAE’s leading run-scorer. He also contributed with both bat and ball in the Under-19 Asia Cup and gained experience through the UAE’s Under-19 World Cup qualifying pathway.
Competing against teams including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh gave him opportunities to test his abilities against strong opposition and develop his understanding of international cricket.
Alongside his international commitments, Suri continued to play domestic cricket and gained exposure through the Desert Vipers Development setup, further broadening his experience in competitive environments.
One of the standout chapters of his career came in 2026, when he captained Sharjah to the championship in the Under-19 State Tournament.
Across five innings, Suri scored 393 runs at an average of 98.25, including three centuries and a half-century, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer.
He also claimed 13 wickets in five matches to finish as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. His fielding earned him the Best Fielder of the Tournament award, while his overall performances secured him the Player of the Tournament honour.
Leading Sharjah to the title marked a significant milestone in his development as both a cricketer and a captain.
In another step forward, Suri was selected for UAE Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 in 2026. The opportunity offers him exposure to franchise cricket in a format that demands quick decision-making, adaptability and the ability to perform under pressure.
His progression from academy cricket to international age-group representation, domestic success and a franchise selection reflects the development of a young player continuing to pursue a career at the highest level.
Throughout his journey, Suri has remained grateful to the people who supported him, including his elder brother, parents and first coaches. Shahzad Altaf, in particular, continues to be an important source of guidance and encouragement.
From imitating his brother as a young child to captaining a championship-winning side and earning selection for Abu Dhabi T10, Suri’s achievements so far mark another stage in his ambition to establish himself in professional cricket and make his family, coaches, academy and country proud.
