Dubai: Top-class Twenty20 cricket action will return to the UAE when the annual Emirates Airline Twenty20 tournament takes place at The Sevens stadium near Dubai on Friday.
The likes of Sri Lanka spin-bowling Muttiah Muralitharan, current Sri Lankan Test wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and England stars Matt Prior, James Anderson and Monty Panesar are all expected to be in action at the four-team event. And fans will also be treated to autograph sessions with Indian opener Virender Sehwag and veteran Malayalam film star Suresh Gopi.
Play begins at 10.30am with the first semi-final between Prior’s English county side Sussex, who are the defending champions, and Anderson’s Lancashire, with a representative Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) side then taking on a local Kerala Premier League (KPL) team from 2pm. The final is scheduled to take place between 6pm and 9pm.
Prior, who has played 75 Test matches for England, said the tournament is a key part of Sussex’s build-up to the new season. “The opportunity to play cricket outside and get on turf wickets rather than being indoors is obviously great for all concerned. Certainly for the Sussex squad, it’s a big part of our season,” he said at the tournament’s launch at the Porsche showroom on Shaikh Zayed Road on Wednesday.
“They’ve been in since end of October or November at indoor schools, working on skills and techniques trying to improve. This gives them a great opportunity to see where they’ve got to and also put it in game situations, which is great. In England you can’t get outside, so this is very important to make sure everything is right from the team point of view and the individual.”
Jayawardene will play alongside the likes of Muralitharan, Panesar and former England all-rounder Samit Patel in the MCC side.
“It’s a privilege to play in the MCC side. It’s my first time playing for them,” he said. “It’s good experience and fun to play in different countries and with different players.”
Matthew Jackson, Tournament Director and Managing Director of Sports Arabia, said: “We have a tremendous line-up of players coming to Dubai for what promises to be a festival of cricket for the whole family.
“As the tournament grows in stature and attendance each year, we are always pleased to see the number of families and children attending, as we hope to inspire the next generation of cricket players and spectators while watching cricket legends in Dubai.”
Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice-President, Commercial Operations, of sponsors Emirates, added: “We are again looking forward to the tournament playing host to some of cricket’s most famous names. We welcome the MCC, Lancashire and Sussex back to compete for the coveted Emirates Airline Twenty20 trophy and would also like to welcome a new competitor this year, the Dubai-based Kerala Premier League XI side.
“The event is now a popular fixture on the cricketing calendar, attracting cricket greats and their fans, while generating a wonderful sporting atmosphere at The Sevens. We hope that events such as this inspire spectators and young cricketers to enjoy and succeed in the sport.”
The tournament is held under the auspices of Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Cricket Council.
