Next Asia Cup may be held in UAE

Dubai: The UAE has emerged as the most eligible candidate to host the next Asia Cup following the announcement by the new Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Dr Nasim Ashraf that the next Asia Cup in 2010 will be held in a non-Test playing country.

"The ACC has many associate countries as candidates for the 2010 Asia Cup and hopefully one will be selected in the next six months," said Ashraf, who was unanimously elected as the ACC President until 2010.

Ashraf also went on to mention about the cricket venues in UAE. "Sharjah is a centre while more stadiums have also emerged in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Sports City," he said.

With the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium scheduled to be operational by the beginning of 2009, UAE will emerge as the nation with the best cricketing facilities among the non-Test playing countries.

"We will be a great neutral venue to hold these matches, especially since we have the best state-of-the-art facilities," said U. Balasubramaniam, the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Sports City.

"With a large population from the four Asian Test playing countries - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - living here, there will be a huge turn out for the Asia Cup matches," he added.

"The cricket stadium in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are of international standards. The expatriates from all these top cricket playing nations have been missing cricket for many years and I am sure the Asia Cup will be well received here, he said.

Seating capacity

Mohammad Redha Abbas, the executive member of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), attended the International Cricket Council (ICC) associate members conference along with Mazhar Khan, the chief administrator of the ECB, last week.

"Though Singapore, Malaysia and Nepal are non-Test playing countries which can be considered to host the event, UAE has the best facilities among all of them," said Abbas.

"Most of these countries have cricket grounds that cannot accommodate large number of spectators."

The Sharjah cricket stadium can seat over 27,000, spectators the Abu Dhabi can also accommodate close to 20,000 while the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will have a seating capacity of 25,000," he said.

Abbas also pointed out that if the Asia Cup is held in Dubai then it can benefit cricket lovers in the region. "Cricket fans from all over the Middle East, especially from all the cricket playing gulf countries can easily come here and watch the action," said Abbas.

Ashraf also pointed out that UAE has the potential to qualify for the 2011 World Cup along with Nepal, Afghanistan and Oman.

The new chief of the ACC said that his priority will be to include two Asian countries in the 2011 World Cup.

"Among all the non-Test playing countries, UAE has the best facilities with three international stadiums"