Dubai: A group of women will storm an essentially male bastion when they come together for the first-ever indoor women’s corporate cricket tournament in Dubai on June 16 and 17.
The women, who play for different academies, will take on each other at the inaugural Cycle Hub Women’s Cricket League soon after Iftar on the two days during Ramadan at the Go Stadia in Dubai Investment Park.
Dubai-based Indian expat Humera Khan, the brain behind the initiative, told XPRESS the Cycle Hub is supporting the idea to promote women’s sports and well-being. The 33-year-old property manager said she came up with the idea of filling a gaping gap for women in indoor cricket at the corporate level.
Inspiration
“I belong to a family of cricket players and fans. Around two years ago, my brother persuaded me to play as well. I agreed but when I met other women playing for different academies, I realised a lot of women who played for different academies shared my views about the need for an indoor league.”
Khan, who is a medium-pace bowler, said preparations for the tournament are in full swing, with the women holding practice sessions along with the men twice a week. The tournament, however, will be a female affair. “We will have teams of six players each and will play a 12 over match. So far, 35 women have confirmed their participation. They are of different nationalities and backgrounds. We have Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshi and Britons. Their ages too vary and we have 12 to 35 year olds.”
Khan said she expects around 100 women to sign up for the championship by the time the registration deadline ends on June 10. The championship is open to all individuals and corporates. “Anyone who can bring in a team of six players can enter the championship for free.”
Apart from the creation of a level playing field for women, Khan said the initiative will encourage women to play cricket, enjoy the game and keep active. “Today, life has become mechanical with 9-to-5 jobs the only focus that people have. Out of 24 hours in a day, they spend 12 hours in the office and eight hours sleeping. People do not have time to look after their health. Our motive to start this kind of championship was to encourage corporations to get involved in sports activities and promote employees’ healthy living, fun and fitness.”
She said working women are hardly involved in any outdoor activities as they have many responsibilities at home too.
“We find that corporate sports is a symbol of unification and improves team spirit and solidarity. Corporates taking part in sports influences the work morale of employees.
“Participating in fitness activities outside the office can help employees recover from work and come back re-energised. The time and energy spent in sports improves team spirit and leadership abilities in a way that extends far beyond what can be learnt in a seminar.”
She said a successful corporate sports team is something that people talk about at sports bars and public functions.
