New facility a boon for Dubai cricketers u Khan.

Byline: K.R. Nayar

Dubai The Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) has acknowledged that the Emirates airline's new cricket facility at 7he Sevens will be a boon for Dubai cricketers.

Speaking to Gulf News, Hayat Yar Khan, the secretary of the DCC, said: "Emirates had supported development of cricket by DCC in 1998 when DCC made two grass grounds for Emirates. This new facility should be a boon to Dubai cricketers and for the development of the game in Dubai."

The two turf grounds and the four all-weather grounds have been created at 7he Sevens in coordination with the DCC. In fact, the six grounds have been made so that DCC could also stage their league and tournaments.

"Four all-weather grounds should be playable by May this year," added Khan, who had coordinated with Indian curator Radhey Shyam Sharma.

When asked when the DCC matches will commence at the new facility, Khan said: "If the terms and conditions of Emirates, which expectantly should be consistent with the other regional council facilities and acceptable to the DCC, then we can start the activities immediately."

Khan pointed out that: "DCC is a no profit or no loss body. We have to take into consideration that for the Dubai cricketers this venue is equi-distant from Sharjah and Ajman grounds, which too have the same facilities and hence it has to be affordable for the cricketers."

Middle income group

According to Khan: "Cricket is played by the masses from the middle income group and hence has to be affordable to them."

The DCC stages over 400 matches a year and conducts coaching camps for budding cricketers. Everything had come to a standstill since their seven pitches in the Al Jadaf area had to make way for the construction of Dubai Health Care City in 2005. "The game developed in Dubai during the '60s and '70s without facilities. A lot more is required in developing the game with the available facilities to generate enthusiasm for the game among the UAE nationals.

"Like Afghanistan, who created waves without any facilities, we too need to work towards it," said Khan, who appreciated Emirates decision to put up floodlights at the ground.

"In Dubai, the working hours and holidays do not allow much cricket during day time. Floodlights will enable the game to be played after working hours as we had experienced in our facilities in Jadaf until 2005."

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Publication:	Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
Geographic Code:	7UNIT
Date:	Mar 3, 2010
Words:	416
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