Dubai: Dubai Sports City has made extensive plans to make sure children who have a passion for cricket will be given the best opportunities to prepare for a career in the professional game, after announcing plans for the future of cricket in the UAE.
The International Cricket Council is headquartered at Dubai Sports City with the ICC Academy already a huge part of the lifestyle community. But now, with the help of the Gems Sports Academy, all three have come together to deliver a unique and comprehensive programme for budding cricketers in the country.
The Professional Cricket Programme will be open for students across the country and they will be trained by top-class ICC Academy coaches during a two-year program to learn the fundamental basics going on to advanced aspects of the game with courses beginning in September.
General Manager of Sport and Events Business at Dubai Sports City, Maqbul Dudhia described the new partnership as a “milestone in producing cricketing talent for the future” and hailed the passion of the sport right across the UAE.
“It’s an incredible sight to see the thousands of fans fill the International Cricket Stadium during a Test match,” Dudhia said. “You can see in the eyes of many of the children and teenagers watching on that they would love to be on that crease playing the sport they love.
“We now have a very structured and varied programme with the help of Gems Sports Academy where we can harness that love of the game and enable those passionate younger people to have a go themselves.”
The ICC Academy sees this programme as vital to the development of youth in the UAE and is full of enthusiasm ahead of its start in September.
“There is no doubting cricket is a huge part of life in the UAE,” said ICC Academy Manager, Will Kitchen. “What we want to do, and in partnership with the excellent programme and procedures set up by Gems Sports Academy is prepare the younger generation for a fully-fledged career in this wonderful game.
“We at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City have the resources, the infrastructure and the experience whilst Gems Sport Academy bring the passionate kids and structured learning patterns.”
With Dubai Sports City set to host numerous big international test matches once again this year at the International Cricket Stadium including Pakistan v England in October, cricket is very much a part of the sporting landscape in the UAE and it is not hard to see children inspired by seeing the world’s best players on their doorstep.
Gems Sports Academy has already experienced a number of success stories with past students going onto football scholarships in the USA and rugby players progressing to the UAE U19 set-up and now for Gems Sports Academy’s Director of Sport, James Tucker, cricket is the obvious next step.
“Our aim with this two-year Professional Cricket Programme is that we spread the reach of the sport, we’re aiming for much wider participation.” he said.
“There are not many opportunities in the world where you can be taught the inner workings of being a professional sportsman or woman whilst still studying but that is what we aim to do.
“Being trained like a professional playing a sport you love is the recipe of success and we’re delighted to be able to team up with the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on this exciting partnership.”
Students all across the UAE may log on to www.gemssportsacademy.com to get more details about the Gems Sports Academy and ICC Academy Professional Cricket Programme.