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Cricket in the UAE is set to receive a huge boost later this year.
The Dubai cricket stadium will be ready for action in October, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) Global Cricket Academy (GCA) is scheduled to open its doors in December.
The completion of these two mega projects at Dubai Sports City is set to create an international impact.
“Dubai will become the centre of world sport. The completion of the cricket stadium, the global academy, the hockey and football stadiums will attract sportsmen from around the world to make use of the facilities here,” said ICC president Ray Mali, after his visit to the construction site last week.
The stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000 expandable to 30,000, will be one of the most modern cricket stadiums in the world.
David Morgan, the next president of the ICC, was clearly impressed by the stadium.
“Even at this stage of construction it is very clear that it is going to be a very significant cricket stadium. It will have its own charm,” he said.
“Dubai is located at the centre of the world of cricket. Teams from Britain, Australasia and South Africa have to pass through Dubai to reach the sub-continent. Hence it will be an ideal location for cricketers.”
A high-level delegation, which included Mali, Morgan, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed and former ICC president Ehsan Mani, visited the site of the stadium and academy and gave their stamp of approval to the projects last week.
The centre-pitch has been completed under the direction of GCA head curator Tony Hemming and the work on the pavilion and lighting is being completed at a brisk pace.
“The roofing of the pavilion is such that it can withstand all weather patterns and even absorb dust storms and moisture and thus provide a cool atmosphere,” revealed Dubai Sports City CEO U. Balasubramaniam.
“A unique lighting system, known as the ring of fire, is being introduced for the first time in a cricket stadium.
“The peculiarity of this lighting is that there will be no rectangular platforms with poles holding the light.”
Speed is confident that the best of the international teams will play at the stadium. He even assured that the ICC will encourage teams to play at the stadium as often as possible.
“This stadium will provide greater focus for cricket in the Middle East,” Speed said.
“It will also provide opportunities for cricket fans in the region to watch some of the world’s greatest cricketers in action.”
The work on the GCA, with more than 54 practice pitches, is in full swing. Pitches like those available in Australia, the UK, South Africa and on the sub-continent are being created in the academy.
“We have started importing soils from these countries so bowlers and batsmen can learn to play on these sorts of wickets,” said curator Hemming.
The ICC headquarters will also shift to DSC, near the GCA.
“Having the GCA, stadium and ICC headquarters all on one site will be magnificent. It will help the game immensely,” said Morgan.
Work on the two oval grounds at the academy is also advanced. These grounds may be used by English county teams to play their off-season matches here.
“The stadium is shaping up to be one of the most magnificent sport infrastructures and the academy will be the best in the world,” said Mani, who was the ICC president when he laid the foundation stone for the academy in 2005.
“Out of the 10 ICC full-member nations, not all of them have state-of-the-art academies.
“This academy will surely be attractive and helpful for all nations around the world.”
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