Dubai: The Dubai Super Sixes corporate cricket league, scheduled to be held from September 29 at the Dubai Sports City international cricket stadium is set to become one of the biggest corporate domestic tournaments in the UAE.
This tournament is being shaped on the lines of the famous Hong Kong Sixes, which boosted cricket in their region and this form of the game.
Speaking to Gulf News, Arshad Zaheer, Managing Director of Crayons Communications, who are the organisers of the event, said: "The response towards participation in this event has been phenomenal. We are delighted to have requests from teams not only from Dubai but also from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah wanting to compete in the event."
The tournament is unique in many ways. Each team will be made up of six players with five neutral fielders provided by the organisers. Each team will bowl only five overs and every player will bowl except the wicketkeeper. The duration of a match will be 70 minutes and will be held from 5pm to 11pm.
The organisers have decided to provide one international cricketer for the teams reaching the quarterfinals. "This will give an opportunity for corporate cricket players to rub shoulders with the greats of the game. So we expect the battle to be intense among the participants to reach the quarterfinals. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who is our brand ambassador, has already announced that he is ready to play for one of the teams," added Zaheer.
"Our aim is to give the teams an exposure they cannot buy. Hence we have decided to stage the event at the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium, which is one of the best stadiums in the world, and also provide the players the opportunity of playing under the unique lighting system called Ring of Fire," he said
The event is being held under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council and sponsored by Gulf Oil. Participation details are available on www.dubaisupersixes.com
Forty-eight corporate teams can participate in the event and they will be divided into six groups. "Companies can enter more than two teams provided they are different brands of the same company," said Zaheer.
Famous sixes
World's famous sixes tournament:
Hong Kong Sixes, Phuket Sixes, Singapore Sixes, Shanghai international Cricket Sixes, Thailand Cricket Sixes, Chiang Mai Sixes and Macau international cricket Sixes.
Rules:
- Each game shall be played between two teams of six players. A game consists of a maximum of five, six-ball overs
- Each member of the fielding side shall bowl one over, with the exception of the wicketkeeper.
- Wides and no balls are counted as two extras and an extra ball is bowled.
- If five wickets fall before five overs are completed, the last remaining batsman shall bat on with the fifth out batsman acting as runner.
