Mohammad Mansoor is a disruptor and a dreamer – constantly doing things considered nearly impossible. He is the founder and Chairman of the Saara Group which has a host of businesses including oil and gas, IT, and electric vehicles among many others. He is also on the board of several organisations and has been awarded for his business acumen – locally as well as across the world.
Sports and its administration is one of his deepest passions. A well-known and respected figure in global cricket administration circles, as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Bahrain Cricket Federation, he not only brought the ICC Men’s World Cup Trophy Tour to Bahrain but created a massive rally and road show that made the world sit up and take notice of the beauty, heritage and potential of Bahrain. The videos posted of the event on the International Cricket Council’s social media pages had millions of views from cricket lovers across the globe giving Bahrain a glowing reputation in the cricketing world.
Promotion of Bahrain on the world stage has been paramount to Mr Mansoor, as the Chairman of Life N Style Magazine, he has ensured that Bahrain’s leading figures and brands have found a place of prominence in the magazine’s print and digital issues.
We spoke to Mr Mansoor to talk about the year in retrospect to find out more about his success and his plans for the future.
This year has been extraordinary for you – as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Bahrain Cricket Federation, you were instrumental in bringing the World Cup Trophy to Bahrain for a massive roadshow and rally – what was the experience like?
Mr Mohammad Mansoor: Did you know that cricket has been played in Bahrain since the early 20th century? The earliest instance of cricket was recorded in 1932 when a match was played between Royal British Airforce and Royal British Navy. In 1935, the Awali Cricket Club was formed by the then British Oil Company which is now BAPCO – Bahrain Petroleum Company, so cricket isn’t new for Bahrain.
Cricket is a part of my DNA, and I have been actively involved in its promotion in Bahrain since 2018. I wanted to elevate the quality of cricket being played in Bahrain so I approached KHK Sports and we did Bahrain Premier League in collaboration with them on the same lines as the popular Indian Premier League with player auctions and the involvement of several notable businessmen as owners of teams and His Highness Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee was the Chief Guest who awarded the winners with the trophy.
I want to thank Mr Mohammad Shahid who implemented HH Shaikh Khalid’s ideas and incorporated cricket into the KHK Sports vision.
We formed a new board – the Bahrain Cricket Federation and implemented a new strategy to strengthen Bahrain cricket and give it exposure on a global scale. As a part of this strategy, I had a productive meeting with Mr Jay Shah, President of the Asian Cricket Council, during which I expressed our interest in hosting the ACC board meeting in Bahrain, I was thrilled to receive his positive response and the opportunity to welcome cricket administrators of this calibre to our country for the first time. This significant milestone has undoubtedly enhanced Bahrain’s profile in the cricketing world.
Under HH Shaikh Khalid’s patronage, our teams – Men’s, Women’s and U-19 have participated in several tournaments abroad from UAE, Oman to Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal and have defeated several higher-ranking teams.
Bahrain’s very first women’s cricket team holds five world records, an incredible feat! Our efforts in promoting women’s cricket were recognised by the ICC and we won the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative last year.
Bringing the ICC Men’s Trophy tour to Bahrain seems far-fetched at one point but I am fortunate to have met some really supportive people in the ICC management – ICC President Greg Barclay, CEO Geoff Allardice and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja as well as Mr Aminul Islam and Mr Iqbal Sikander who whole-heartedly supported us. In fact, ICC told us that we had one of the best trophy tours in this World Cup.
Our mega rally showcased the best of Bahrain’s history, culture, and heritage and brought together two big sports – Formula One and Cricket. Over 10,000 people participated in the event as the trophy made the round of Bahrain’s iconic landmarks and finally did a lap of the majestic Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad al khalifa with ICC Deputy Chairman Mr. Imran Khwaja and Mr Mansoor at the unveiling of the ICC Men’s World Cup trophy tour in Bahrain
I am very thankful to HH Shaikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his presence at the unveiling ceremony. And to Dr Nasser Al Qaedi, CEO, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, whose whole-hearted support made the events and shoots at heritage sites possible.
I also want to thank BIC CEO, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa who threw open the doors of the Bahrain International Circuit to us and gave every assistance to make the event at the circuit a grand success. I would also like to acknowledge the immense support we receive from Dr. Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar, CEO, General Sports Authority, Mr Faris Al Kooheji, Secretary General, Bahrain Olympic Committee, various ministries and authorities, our sponsors, the tireless work of the BCF team and volunteers as well as the cricket fans who were at the centre of this trophy tour.
The Bahrain national cricket teams have had a spectacular run this year – despite inadequate infrastructure – how are you looking to rectify this situation?
We are extremely proud of our boys who despite all odds have really made a mark in International cricket from defeating higher-ranking teams to consistent batting and several of them took five-wicket hauls. Yes, they are praiseworthy for their skill, dedication and zeal. They work 9-5 jobs and still find time for training and practice. Yes, lack of infrastructure is a real issue for us but we are working on finding a solution and there have been several positive developments in that aspect which I hope to share with you soon.
As the Chairman of Life N Style Magazine, this is your fourth issue- as a quarterly, it means you have completed a year in the luxury lifestyle publication space. The videos, the digital synergies and the high-profile interviews – it has been quite eventful – can you please share your plans for the future?
I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished in our first year. We have published four issues that have been well-received by our readers and advertisers alike. We have also produced engaging videos, leveraged digital synergies, and secured high-profile interviews.
For the future, we have ambitious plans to grow Life N Style Magazine into the leading luxury lifestyle publication in the world. We will continue to publish high-quality content that is informative, inspiring, and entertaining. We will also expand our digital and geographic reach: We currently publish in Bahrain but plan to have editions out of the other GCC countries from Saudi Arabia to UAE allowing us to reach a larger audience.
We want to create more interactive content that allows our readers to interact with us and with each other – these will include more live events.
We are still mulling over the launch of a luxury e-commerce platform as well as an exclusive members-only club which provides exclusive access to our subscribers.
I am confident that Life N Style Magazine is well-positioned for success in the years to come. We have a strong team, a loyal readership, and a clear vision for the future. I am excited to see what we can accomplish together.
In addition to the above, I would also like to add that we are committed to using our platform to promote diversity, inclusion, and sustainability in the luxury lifestyle industry.
