Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi's growing reputation as an international sporting venue is likely to be enhanced when the Zayed Cricket Stadium stages Test cricket between Pakistan and South Africa in November.
Dilawar Mani, the CEO of Emirates Cricket Board, confirmed to Gulf News that Abu Dhabi along with Dubai will become the two latest Test playing venues when Pakistan stage their home series against South Africa here in the UAE. Sharjah had, in the past, acted as the neutral Test venue for matches between Pakistan and Australia and Pakistan and the West Indies.
"Abu Dhabi will stage the only T20 match between Pakistan and South Africa towards the end of October and later will stage two ODIs and one Test match.
The two teams are scheduled to play one T20, five ODIs and two Tests and Dubai will be staging the remaining three ODIs and one Test match," Mani said.
South Africa has agreed to play the Test and one-day international series against Pakistan here in the UAE following an agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
Clash of dates
Speaking to Gulf News, Mani said: "Abu Dhabi will be staging the second Test for the dates of the first Test clash with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula One event. The PCB, along with the CSA, will be jointly announcing the precise dates later."
While Dubai Sports City will be the venue in Dubai, the Zayed Cricket Stadium will be the venue in Abu Dhabi — with all three cricket stadiums in the UAE set to have the distinction of having staged Test matches.
Ever since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus at Lahore last year, which killed seven people, the UAE has virtually become the ‘second home' for Pakistan cricket.
Earlier this year in February, England played two T20 matches against Pakistan in Dubai while last November, Pakistan took on New Zealand in three ODIs in Abu Dhabi and two T20 matches in Dubai.