Sharjah: Sharjah cricket fans have always been special as they have always enjoyed limited-overs cricket.
This stadium, which has hosted the maximum number of One Day Internationals (ODI) in the history of cricket, is expecting a large turnout for the fourth ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Friday.
Though Pakistan have won the series by winning three of the five matches in the series, the enthusiasm from the fans here has not subsided.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mazhar Khan, the Sharjah Cricket Club general manager and Sharjah Cricket Council secretary said: “Watching One-day matches from Sharjah Stadium has always been special for fans. The atmosphere and the history beckon everyone to the ground for the sheer enjoyment of cricket here.”
This stadium will host its 227th one-dayer to continue its reign as the leading ODI stadium in the world.
On October 23, the ground will also host the fifth ODI, which will be the 228th here.
Sharjah Stadium also has the reputation of producing close finishes. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmad said that he wants to play the remaining matches with the same spirit and inflict a clean sweep on the Sri Lankans.
In the Test series, Sri Lanka had inflicted a 2-0 clean sweep on Pakistan and therefore it will be sweet revenge for the Pakistanis.
Waleed Bukhatir, vice-chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, is confident that both the teams will play for a win and hence it would be a cracker of a match.
“I expect there will not be a seat vacant on Friday night and Sharjah stadium will come alive again,” he said. “And we at the stadium are ready to play the ideal hosts for another big night of top-class cricket.”
Khan revealed that ticket sales are going fast. Incidentally, the organisers have priced the ticket as low as Dh40 for North Stand and Dh50 for East stand.
Unlike in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah matches will commence early.
“The matches will start at 2pm and gates will open at 1pm for both the one-dayers here. The match will end by 9.45pm instead of usual 10.45pm,” Khan said. This will enable the fans who has to report early for work next day to return home early after watching the match.
It will be the first time that this stadium’s biggest hero, Shahid Afridi, will not be in action. There was a time when this stadium used to be filled to the brim when Afridi, who has now retired, came out to bat. Pakistan supporters are expected to turn up to watch Immam-ul-Haq, the young 21-year-old sensation of Pakistan cricket. who is also the nephew of former Pakistan captain and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Pakistan off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez has been reported for a suspect bowling action during the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It needs to be seen whether Hafeez will now bowl in the fourth ODI as his bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC illegal bowling action regulations.
Sri Lanka’s main aim will be to cross the 250-run mark which they have not managed in their last eight games. Sri Lanka’s batting has been the biggest worry and Sharjah Stadium, which has a reputation as a good batting wicket, will be an ideal opportunity for the Sri Lankans to post a respectable total for the first time in this series.
