UAE a global magnet for cricket, sporting events
Indian and Pakistani players line up for the national anthem at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. File/AFP
Once upon a time there were no cricket pitches in the UAE because it was mostly desert. In the 1970’s, the Royal Air Force Sharjah only had a concrete plaza. Now, with incredible advancements, UAE has become a global destination not only for cricket but other sporting events as well. The nation is enjoying an international reputation that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
Not only is it a hotspot of choice for incredible high-end living, with stratospheric comforts and global investors and vacation haven for countless tourists, it has also transformed into an irresistible magnet for sports tourism, with spending amounting to over $1.7 billion in total annual spending on sport, be it cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, golf or UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), you name the event, it’s there. Sporting icons from Tiger Woods to Lewis Hamilton and Roger Federer to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have all shown their brilliance here. Even the Williams sisters have played their matches in the country.
Also, players from many countries camped ahead of the Olympics in Dubai, where they were completely safe from the coronavirus, using world-class infrastructure and physio facilities. Thanks to the pioneering vision and support of the leadership, the UAE has firmly established itself as one of the greatest sporting venues in the world.
If there is a sport Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has organized several world-class events including UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Dubai World Cup, Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Pakistan Super League (PSL ), Australian Open Grand Slam Qualifying Round, Dubai Tennis Championships, Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, DP World Tour Championship, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Round.
Yes, admit that there is a lot of football fever in this country judging by the countless football stadiums and clubs that have mushroomed here. But it’s cricket mania that’s gripped people’s minds here. This month, the UAE will host the Asia Cup 2022. In recent years UAE has often hosted many cricket events – T20 World Cup, IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The country hosted them during the peak of COVID-19 and that makes the UAE a distinct country in organizing sporting events. The UAE is no stranger to hosting major cricket tournaments. Cricket came to this country in early 1981 when Sharjah began hosting the elite international players well before it hosted its first international tournament.
Since then, the UAE has grown significantly and hosted the first part of IPL 2014 and the full edition of IPL 2020. Security in this country is a big plus: Pakistan hosted internationals for almost a decade following the 2009 Lahore terrorist attack. The country that gave birth to international cricket in the 1980s got the chance to host one of the biggest tournaments in the world – the ICC T20 World Cup (17 October to 14 November) and will now host the Asia Cup.
The tournament was supposed to be hosted by Sri Lanka, but the political situation forced the Lanka Board to move the tournament to the UAE. According to a report on the economic impact of sport in Dubai, the total economic impact of sport in Dubai is more than US$670 million. Huge demand Anis Sajan, Deputy Chairman of the Danube Group, also known as Mr. Cricket UAE, said that the UAE has become an important meeting place on a global scale thanks to its convenient transport connections.
“Since we have hosted events like the Grand Prix and the Football Cup, the UAE government has also been very open and supportive of the global sports community. Given the nation’s culture and adaptability, many players travel there frequently to take advantage of the vibrant culture In terms of cricket, the UAE boasts world-class facilities in all of its stadiums, including ICC Stadium, Dubai Stadium, Sharjah Stadium and even the Abu Dhabi Stadium.
The amenities of this site make it easy to host international competitions. I think the UAE will be better known in the world of cricket with the 2023 International T20 League,” he said. Manish Kishore, Managing Director of U-Pro, an indoor sports center in Dubai, and COO of a franchise in Dubai the Delhi Bulls, who played in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, spoke about the immense potential that Dubai offers for the growth of the sport.
“What we are seeing in the UAE sports world is a huge demand, behind this view the sports infrastructure created by the leaders is amazing. Aside from matches and training, the easy availability of 5-star hotels means players can enjoy the beach and nightlife while following the bio-bubble.” Manish Kishore says that as a cricket fan, the crowd loves the Asia Cup stadium 2018 in the United Arab Emirates and this will be the second Asia Cup to watch, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.
One of the founding fathers of cricket in Dubai, veteran Shyam Bhatia, recalls the old days and says the UAE is now the first choice of any sporting event on the world stage. There was a time when there were no cricket pitches in this desert. It was a big challenge to get 22 players together and get a big field. In 1967 Shyam Bhatia introduced mats in Calcutta, which made playing cricket a little easier.
When Emirati businessman Abdul Rahman Bukhatir returned to Sharjah after studying in Pakistan, he organized the first cricket tournament in Sharjah and gave shape to cricket in the UAE. Since then, companies have also prepared their own teams, Shyam Bhatia himself used to call good players from India for jobs in his company to make his company’s team strong. This was the time when cricket took formal form in Sharjah.
In 1981, Sharjah Stadium emerged, breathing life into UAE cricket. Key role Shyam Bhatia says no one can deny the contribution Indians have made to the rise of cricket in the UAE, from the level of organizers and finance to sport and players, as well as the contribution of players and good games by Pakistani citizens. When UAE first qualified for and participated in the World Cup in 1996 under the coach of Madan Lal, all the players on the team except for captain Sultan Zarwani were from India and Pakistan.
This was the year that UAE had pounded onto the international stage and today many international tournaments are held in Dubai, from ICC HQ to T20 World Cup, IPL, PSL. Shyam Bhatia added that the rise of cricket in UAE was fueled by the 50-over A Division and 30-over B Division matches and the 4 Nations Tournament organized by Shyam Bhatia.
The 4 Nations Tournament featured a team of Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan local players and a fourth team, the rest of the world. The UAE has indeed come a long way in terms of its sports infrastructure and hosting of international sporting events. In 1984, the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosted the first ODI in the United Arab Emirates, sandwiched between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Now, after more than 35 years, it has hosted over 200 ODIs. There are many major tournaments in the UAE in the coming times, which according to Indo-Asian News Service is like a new life from a tourism, economic and sporting point of view.
Several factors contribute to the UAE becoming the top choice for hosting cricket tournaments: * Three major world-class cricket stadiums. * Easy availability of 7-8 other small and large stadiums of the same level to practice. *Due to the short distance between the stadiums, players play a game in Abu Dhabi and travel 2 hours later to the next game in Dubai.
The only 1-hour travel distance between Dubai and Sharjah Stadium caused no fatigue during the journey and keeps the players fresh throughout the tournament. *The world-class infrastructure for the games and the provision of many indoor training sessions, weather conditions do not affect the comfort of the players. *In a country with more than 20 football stadiums, the easy availability of grounds is a bargain for any event. *What makes the UAE special is its legal system.
From the 1980s to the present, there has never been a recorded riot or fight at any cricket or football match. * Never recorded anything illegal like black marketing of tickets. *No incident of violation of player privacy on or off the pitch has been observed to date. *The successful staging of the T20 World Cup and IPL 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the credibility of the UAE Cricket Board.
We’ve all seen the scientific and practical implications of the biobubble in major tournaments. *Organizing a tournament between citizens from more than 200 countries gives it a new height. *The easy and affordable availability of 5 star hotels is also a major reason why the UAE is slowly becoming the number one choice for this type of event. *Cheap flight tickets and hotels to UAE as well as a wonderful tourist destination is a double deal for sports fans.