Seat of cricket world’s top body, and a lot more
Prelude to the World Cup has begun in right earnest in the form of the Indian Premier League
Thanks to great infrastructure and a large expat population, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have helped the UAE evolve from a desert cricketing venue to the most sought-after neutral cricket destination in just 40 years. The T20 World Cup sets the stage for a lot more cricketing action
When rains were playing havoc with the World Test Championship (WTC) final in Southampton last June, former England star Kevin Pietersen pitched for Dubai as the ideal venue for the showpiece in future.
‘KP,’ as he is popular known, said Dubai would have been an ideal venue for the final. “Neutral venue, fabulous stadium, guaranteed weather, excellent training facilities and a travel hub! Oh, and ICC home is next to the stadium,” he said on social media.
Pietersen’s remarks, in a way, reflected the ringing endorsement for the growth that UAE — an associate member country of the ICC — has made over the last couple of decades to emerge as the most sought-after destination as a neutral cricket venue in the world. It may be a coincidence, but fittingly so, that the country has been the chosen one to play hosts of the T20 World Cup later this year on the 50th year of its formation.
Top flight action
Cut to September, and the prelude to the World Cup has begun in the right earnest in the form of Indian Premier League (IPL), whose second phase is being played out in Dubai along with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah — and in front of a limited number of spectators. It’s for the first time since the 2019 season that the IPL is being played in front of the fans — and the ardent followers of the eight teams are actually having a ball.
A bonanza of top flight T20 action is under way — first from the franchises and then the national teams when the World T20 gets under way in Dubai. The sense of occasion is hard to miss as it’s coinciding with the launch of Expo Dubai 2020. As the eyes of the world will be riveted to Dubai, the Who’s Who of world cricket will be locked in a battle of supremacy for the biggest prize in the shortest format of the game.
What’s even more interesting is that the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), the governing body of the game in the country, got the goahead from the Rulers to throw their hat in the ring — along with 16 other countries - — to play hosts to any of the eight men’s ODI and T20 events after the 2023 cycle. The events at stake are two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Champions Trophies scheduled to be staged from 20242031 and ICC members were invited to submit a preliminary technical proposal as a potential host.
More in store
This included individual submissions as well as joint proposals and countries who have made initial submissions are: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, UAE, USA and Zimbabwe. While the bigger players are expectedly there, the amount of confidence and goodwill that the UAE has managed to generate with the ICC and it’s influential Board members that it won’t be a surprisetoseethemplayinghoststoat least one or two such mega events.
“Cricket has more than a billion fans around the world and ICC events have a proven track record of bringing significant economic and social benefits for host countries. These events provide hosts with a wonderful opportunity to work closely with local communities to grow the game — whilst supporting economic and social development public policy goals,” remarked Geoff Allardice, Acting Chief Executive of the ICC.
An emboldened UAE, who had for long been content to offer themselves as gracious hosts — be it playing the ‘home’ venue for Pakistan when no international teams were visiting there for more than 10 years or hosting the Pakistan Super League, the IPL or be the common meeting ground for the Asia Cup in 2018 so that India and Pakistan could play each other on a neutral turf — has now decided to take the next big leap forward.
Last year, when the UAE were hosting the IPL 2020 without a fuss amid a raging pandemic, Ravi Shastri — head coach of the Indian team — almost saw this coming. Always a vocal supporter of the UAE’s potential as a cricket venue, Shastri told Gulf News during a chat: “I had said during the 2014 edition of IPL here that it’s just the right choice if the IPL had to ever move overseas — because of the excellent infrastructure and overwhelming number of Indian expats here. As things stand out, there are not too many countries in the world now which can safely host international matches in view of the Covid-19 situation.
“If all goes well, then UAE should be in the running to host any major ICC event as well as bilateral series in future,” Shastri said. The IPL 2020 went off without a hitch and the ECB signed a MoU with the BCCI for staging of major events in future.
The evolution from a desert cricketing venue, which began in Sharjah, to arguably the most sought-after neutral cricket destination, took a timespan of approximately 40 years. Dubai boasts of a state-of-the art cricket stadium, which has already hosted the most number of T20 matches (franchise league matches and internationals) and is the seat of ICC and it’s academy.
In cricketing parlance, Dubai and the UAE have built their innings well, it’s now time to carry on from here ...
If all goes well, then UAE should be in the running to host any major ICC event as well as bilateral series in future.”
Ravi Shastri | Head coach of Team Indian
There could be some speculation about the way Chris Gayle, the ‘Universe Boss’ walked out of the IPL bio-bubble on Thursday night - but the Caribbean’s decision to recharge his batteries before the T20 World Cup needs to be respected.
The Jamaican, who turned 42 soon after the UAE leg of the IPL got under way, had always been his own man - so much so that it makes one ponder how had he been coping with the stiffling nature of life in a bio-bubble over the last one and-a-half years.
Here’s Gayle in his own words: “Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI (Cricket West Indies) bubble, CPL (Caribbean Premier League) bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself. I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai. My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the games coming up.”
Subdued season
Interestingly, Gayle - whom the Punjab Kings team management had been using in an unaccustomed No.3 position since last year, has had a very subdued season so far with only 193 runs from 10 innings with 46 as his highest score. However, with Punjab still in with an outside chance of making the cut as the fourth team and three crunch matches coming up for them (with one against Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday), his experience and ability to change the complexion of a match could surely have come in handy.
Punjab’s brittle middle order had been the main reason for the team blowing hot and cold this season as no other overseas batsman, barring South Africa’s Aiden Markram to a degree, has been able to anchor the innings. There will, hence, be questions asked if the fiercely proud West Indian had any other factors weighing in behind his decision.
Anil Kumble, Head Coach and Director of Cricket Operations, Punjab Kings, said in a press release late on Thursday: “I’ve played against Chris and have coached him at Punjab Kings and all through the years I’ve known him he has always been an absolute professional and we as a team respect his decision and desire to prepare himself for the T20 World Cup.”
Satish Menon, CEO, of the team endorsed Gayle’s decision in the following words: “Chris is a legend who has changed the game of T20 cricket, and we stand by his decision. He is a part of the Punjab Kings family and his presence will be missed. We extend all support to him and wish him success.”
Gayle, who is known for his liking to spend downtime in Dubai, has moved out of the bubble before joining up with his West Indies teammates for the T20 World Cup - all of whom are in the UAE with various franchises in the IPL. Despite being the natural performer that Gayle is, it’s not possible to play competitive cricket non-stop at the highest level at 40-plus and it remains to be seen if the break could be a case of Punjab’s loss and West Indies’ gain.
Gayle had been a part of the West Indies team on the two occasions when they won the World T20 - first in Colombo in 2012 and then again in Kolkata in 2016. The famous ‘Gangnam style’ jig that he broke into after they defeated hosts Sri Lanka in the 2012 final on a balmy evening still stays etched in my memory.
Can he help the West Indies to a third crown after the break? We will know soon.
Gayle had been a part of the West Indies team on the two occasions when they won the World T20.