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Indian and Pakistani players line up to play the national anthems at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.Archives/AFP
Once upon a time, there were no cricket pitches in the UAE because it was mostly desert. In the 1970s, the Royal Air Force of Sharjah had only one concrete pitch. Now, the UAE has made incredible progress, not only in cricket, but also in other sporting events. The country held an unimaginable position internationally until a few years.
Not only is it the go-to hotspot for the incredible high-end living, with access to the stratosphere, a holiday haven for global investors and countless tourists, it has also morphed into an irresistible sports tourism magnet, spending over $1.7 billion Total annual spending related to sports, whether it be cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, golf or UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), you name it. From Tiger Woods to Lewis Hamilton, from Roger Federer to Rafael Nadal to Novak Djokovic, sports icons have all shown their brilliance here. Even the Williams sisters have raced in the country.
Additionally, players from many countries are camping in Dubai ahead of the Olympics, where they are completely free of coronavirus and have access to world-class infrastructure and physiotherapy facilities. Thanks to the leadership’s pioneering vision and support, the UAE has firmly established itself as one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
Warrior Yasmin Daswani (centre) catches the ball during pre-training for SDG Fairbreak Invitational 2022 Women’s Cricket at Dubai Cricket Ground.AFP
If there is a sport, the UAE has organised several world-class events since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, including UFC Fight Island Abu Dhabi, Dubai World Cup, Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Pakistan Premier League (PSL), Australian Open Grand Slam Qualifiers, Dubai Tennis Championships, Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, DP World Tour Championship, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Yes, admit that there is a lot of football fever in this country, judging by the countless football stadiums and clubs that have sprung up here. But cricket mania has captured the hearts of people here. The UAE will host the 2022 Asian Cup this month. Over the past few years, the UAE has hosted many cricket events – the T20 World Cup, the IPL and the Pakistan Premier League (PSL).
The country hosted them at the height of COVID-19, making the UAE an independent nation for organising sporting events. Hosting a major cricket tournament is not an unfamiliar concept to the UAE. Cricket came to the country in early 1981, when Sharjah began hosting elite international players before hosting its first international tournament.
Since then, the UAE has grown strongly, hosting the first part of the 2014 IPL and the full edition of the 2020 IPL. The country’s security is a major plus: nearly a decade after the Lahore terrorist attack in 2009, it also hosted Pakistan’s international competition. The country brought international cricket in the 1980s, with the opportunity to host one of the biggest events in the world, the ICC T20 World Cup (17 October to 14 November), which will now host the Asian Cup.
The tournament was supposed to be hosted by Sri Lanka, but the political situation forced the Sri Lankan committee to move the tournament to the UAE. According to a report on the impact of sports on Dubai’s economy, the total economic impact of sports in Dubai is more than $670 million. Anis Sajan, vice-chairman of the Danube Group, also known as UAE Mr Cricket, said the UAE has developed into a major meeting location across the globe thanks to its easy travel accessibility.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning round 32 of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.Archives/AFP
“The UAE government is also very open and supportive of the global sports world as we host events such as the Grand Prix and the Football Cup. Given the country’s culture and adaptability, many players travel there regularly to take advantage of the vibrant cricket side, all the UAE’s The stadiums all have top-notch facilities, including the ICC Stadium, Dubai Stadium, Sharjah Stadium, and even Abu Dhabi Stadium.
The amenities of these venues make it easy to host international competitions. I think the UAE will become more well-known in the cricket world because of the international T20 league in 2023,” he said. Manish Kishore is the managing director of U-Pro, the Dubai Indoor Sports Centre, and the chief operating officer of the Dubai franchise participating The Delhi Bulls of the Abu Dhabi T10 League spoke about the huge potential that Dubai offers for sports development.
“We see huge demand in the sporting world in the UAE, and behind that view, the sports infrastructure the leaders have created is amazing. Besides games and practice, the convenience of a five-star hotel means players can enjoy the beach and nightlife. , while also following the bio-bubble.” Manish Kishore said, as a cricket fan, the spectators saw the 2018 Asian Cup in the UAE and this will be the second time to watch the Asian Cup.
One of the founders of Dubai cricket, veteran Shyam Bhatia, recalls the days when the UAE is now the go-to choice for all sports organizers on the world stage. There was a time when there were no cricket pitches in this desert. Gathering 22 players and getting a big field is a huge challenge. In 1967, Shyam Bhatia introduced mats in Kolkata, which made playing cricket easier.
Then, when Emirati businessman Abdul Rahman Al-Bhatir returned to Sharjah after studying in Pakistan, he organized the first cricket tournament in Sharjah and laid the groundwork for cricket in the UAE Base. Since then, the company has also prepared its own team, and Shyam Bhatia himself often summons good players from India to work in his company so that his company’s team will become strong. That was the period when cricket was officially formed in Sharjah.
When Sharjah Stadium was established in 1981, it was like bringing life to UAE cricket. Shyam Bhatia, a key player, said that no one can deny the contribution of Indians to the rise of cricket in the UAE, from the organizers and finances to the level of sports and athletes, as well as the contribution of athletes and great games from Pakistani citizens. In Madan, 1996 · Under Lal’s coaching, when the UAE qualified for the World Cup for the first time and played in the World Cup, except for the captain Sultan Zalwani, all the players in the team were from India and Pakistan.
This is the year the UAE took to the international stage, and today, many international events are taking place in Dubai, from the ICC headquarters to the T20 World Cup, IPL, PSL. Shyam Bhatia added that the rise of cricket in the UAE has been driven by 50+ matches in Group A and 30+ matches in Group B and the 4-nation tournament organised by Shyam Bhatia.
In the 4-nation tournament, there is a team of local players from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and a fourth team, the rest of the world. The UAE has really come a long way in terms of sports infrastructure and hosting international sporting events. In 1984, the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosted the first ODI in the United Arab Emirates, located between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Now, after more than 35 years, it has hosted more than 200 ODIs. According to Inya News Agency, in the era to come, the UAE will have a lineup of many major events, which is like breathing new energy from a tourism, economic and sporting perspective.
There are several factors that make the UAE the first choice for hosting cricket tournaments: * Has three large world-class cricket stadiums. * 7-8 other sports venues of the same level for practice use. *The distance between stadiums is short, players play one match in Abu Dhabi and travel to Dubai for the next match 2 hours later.
The only 1-hour travel distance between Dubai and Sharjah Stadium creates no fatigue during the journey, keeping players fresh throughout the game. *World-class competition infrastructure and the availability of many indoor driving ranges also allow weather conditions to affect player convenience. *In a country with more than 20 football fields, the convenience of a venue is a bargain for any event. *What makes the UAE special is its legal system.
No riots or fights have been recorded at any cricket or football match since the 1980s. *Never recorded any illegal activity such as black marketing of tickets. *To date, no violation of any player’s privacy has been observed on or off the field of play. *The successful hosting of the T20 World Cup and IPL 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic enhances the credibility of the UAE Cricket Council.
We’ve all seen the science and practical impact of biofoam in big competitions. * Take any match to the next level by organizing any competition among citizens of over 200 countries. * The convenience and affordable availability of 5-star hotels are also important reasons why the UAE is gradually becoming the first choice for such activities. * Cheap flights and hotels to the UAE, as well as great travel destinations, double the deals for sports fans.
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