Sharjah: The Pakistan-Australia series will give a huge boost to cricket in the UAE with all the venues here to set new landmarks in world cricket. It will also help UAE’s top cricketers to gain in experience by getting to play against top international stars of the two visiting countries.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which has hosted the highest number of One Day Internationals in the history of world cricket, will stage its 216th One Day International match when they stage the first match of the One-day series between Pakistan and Australia on October 7. The Dubai International Stadium, which will stage the only Twenty20 match of the series, will host its 30th Twenty20 match and strengthening its achievement of having hosted the maximum number of Twenty20 matches in the world. With Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium gearing up to host second Test match of the series, UAE will set new marks as a neutral country which has hosted the maximum number of Test matches in world cricket.
The series will also help UAE team which has qualified for the 2015 World Cup to display their skills against Pakistan A team in five One-day games. Speaking to Gulf News, Waleed Bukhatir, the Emirates Cricket Board Executive Committee member and vice chairman of Sharjah Cricket Club, said: “It is a combination of legendary cricketing history and intimacy and friendliness of the cricket fans here that makes venues like Sharjah a very popular venue. All types of matches that are held here in any format including the Indian Premier League, the atmosphere here is absolutely electrifying.”
Sharjah Stadium, which experiences huge turnout for all its matches, will also host a four-day warm-up match between Pakistan A and Australia from October 15-18. “With Pakistan and New Zealand to play two One Day internationals on December 12 and 14 and also a Test match from November 26 to 30 in Sharjah, it will be a great treat for the fans,” said Mazhar Khan, Administrator of ECB and secretary of the Sharjah Cricket Council.
Tickets for Sharjah matches are available at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai Cricket Stadium, AJ Sports, Karachi Darbar and Sind Punjab.
“From the UAE cricketers’ point, the five One-day matches between October 21 and October 30 against Pakistan A team will be an experience. These matches will be held in Dubai,” said Khan.
Pakistan A One-day squad against UAE will be led by Sohaib Maqsood and includes number of one-day specialist cricketers. The UAE squad will be announced soon.
