Exclusive: Traventure Co-owner Sakeer Hussain On Leading Ghent Gladiators During EU T20 Win
The Ghent Gladiators, co-owned by former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, won the inaugural EUT20 Belgium title by defeating the Antwerp Anchors on June 14. Sakeen Hussain, the CEO and managing director of Traventure, a wellness and travel company, was part of the consortium which led the franchise to the championship.
Speaking to Timeline, Sakeer Hussain shared his experience working with the Ghent Gladiators, including team coach and former England cricketer Jonathan Trott, and Indian legend Irfan Pathan.
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The former India all-rounder celebrated another victory as a franchise owner this time. South African batter Temba Bavuma has captained the team, which also featured international stars like James Vince and Josh Brown.
As a wellness coach with a PhD in psychology, Sakeer admitted he was a bit nervous during his first sessions because he joined the squad late. But he quickly connected with the players and soon built a strong bond with the entire team. “We had a great experience with the players throughout the tournament,” Sakeer said.
Ghent Gladiators Before The Final Match
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After just two or three days, he formed a great rapport with everyone. Talking about Irfan Pathan, Sakeer called him a huge inspiration for the team. “He’s always charming. When he walks into the dressing room, the energy shifts. With his experience, he motivates the players and played a key role in the tournament,” Sakeer noted.
Describing how he entered the league, Sakeer said the entire process took place in Dubai. His partner, Muhammed Shahid Edakkan, a Dubai-based healthcare strategist and business leader, began working on the project during the auction eight months ago. He said they considered taking on the project through a consortium. However, he noted that they will not be able to do it alone because it required significant financial investment. “Thus, we formed a consortium and signed a contract with Jonathan Trott and the Ghent Gladiators.” Sakeer explained.
Regarding his company’s future plan, Sakeer said Traventure aims to participate in future editions of the tournament. “Beyond cricket, Traventure runs wellness tourism operations in India and Dubai, We plan to expand into Europe and other parts of the world to reach more customers,” he added.
Sakeer Hussain With Ghent Gladiators Team Members
