As I look out of my home window, I see a police vehicle shooing away a bunch of enthusiastic weekend cricketers playing in a parking lot nearby. The scorching heat or the lack of a proper cricket ground does not seem to deter them from playing their favourite game.
Until now, it was only men who dared to walk out in these hot conditions and play cricket. Now it seems women too are enjoying doing this. On Friday and Saturday mornings they gather at the Sharjah cricket stadium to sharpen their skills.
Even in Test playing nations people do not to play cricket all 365 days of the year, but in the UAE new tournaments are held every month. Last season, even though the Ramadan tournament was held at the peak of summer, the turnout was tremendous. The UAE is one cricket playing nation where the heat fails to burn the enthusiasm for the game.
As of now, a few more Sharjah Cricket Council tournaments have yet to be held and teams are looking forward to play in them. The Al Dhaid cricket village, where the matches will be played, is located amidst palm trees and is cool relief for players.
Key players
Yogi Group, which has figured in many of the finals this season, is ever ready, and continues to train even now. Shiva Pagarani, their captain, leads their enthusiasm from the front and he has a bunch of equally enthusiastic players.
Freddy Sidhwa, a veteran cricketer and the captain of Seven Seas, is another player who makes sure that cricket never stops in Dubai despite the lack of grounds. In addition to providing facilities like his company's grounds, he also sponsors tournaments. Backing these enthusiastic cricketers are organisers like Tariq Butt in Dubai and Mushtaq Ahmad in Umm Al Quwain.
Now, a few cricket academies too have joined the fray, ensuring coaching is available non-stop throughout the year. Some of them have even organised tours and tournaments in England to ascertain budding cricketers get to sharpen their skills without a break.
Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman councils work all 365 days. If the Dubai council had their own grounds, cricketers need not opt for open parking lots. Drive around Bur Dubai, Deira, Karama and Satwa on a holiday to savour the festive atmosphere through their mere enthusiasm. Days off from work are incomplete without their quota of cricket. Authorities, without considering that cricket is an expatriate sport, must provide open grounds and not make enthusiasts run around simply because they want to enjoy a sport.
