UAE plans to streamline cricket academies amid Rohit Sharma Academy fallout

Dubai: In the wake of the abrupt closure of several high-profile academies — the latest being the temporary pause of the Rohit Sharma Academy in the UAE — the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is moving swiftly to establish a regulatory framework for cricket academies operating across the country. The governing body’s move comes as coaches and senior administrators call for greater scrutiny, transparency, and long-term planning in youth cricket development.

“The Emirates Cricket Board is working on a registration process, which includes cricket academies based in the UAE,” an ECB spokesperson told Gulf News. “The process is expected to be completed soon. Once the process is formalised and put into action, all cricket academies operating in the UAE will need to register with the ECB. The board will monitor these academies to ensure compliance with its policy, procedures and guidelines.”

The ECB is the recognised governing body of cricket in the UAE. It is responsible for overseeing all aspects of play within the four councils — Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, and Sharjah — as well as in the other emirates.

Academies have played a key role in producing home-grown talent and creating a large pool of young players for the national team.

The move is expected to bring long-overdue supervision to a rapidly growing sector that has seen a surge in privately run academies, many carrying the names of prominent international cricketers. However, the closure of academies bearing the names of legends — including Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin — and the latest episode involving the Rohit Sharma Academy, which shut down less than a year after launching in partnership with a local franchise, has exposed significant gaps in operational control and accountability.

‘Qualified coaches must be the priority’

UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput, who has led national teams and worked in developmental setups across the world, emphasised the foundational role academies play in shaping young cricketers. But he warned that fame alone is no guarantee of quality.

“It’s very important for any country to have a good coaching structure at the grassroots,” Rajput said. “Clubs and academies are where players start their journey, and if they are guided by proper coaches with good facilities, they pick up the nuances of the game early. Getting the basics right at a young age is crucial.”

He underlined that coaches should be certified — ideally with Level 1 or Level 2 qualifications — and welcomed the ECB’s initiative to standardise requirements across the board.

“Most parents get attracted by the big names. But the real question is: how involved are those big names? How much time are they giving? Are the children actually benefitting? Parents should focus more on whether the coaches are passionate, knowledgeable, and consistent — not just the brand attached to the academy.”

Referring to the Rohit Sharma Academy case, Rajput said star players must do thorough due diligence before lending their names to ventures abroad.

“When you associate with something like an academy, you must know who you’re dealing with. If things don’t go well, your reputation is on the line. So the responsibility is shared — both by the player and the local operators.”

‘No shortcuts, big names alone don’t deliver’

Echoing Rajput’s views, Sharjah Cricket Council’s long-serving administrator Mazhar Khan said that while many academies have made valuable contributions to cricket in the UAE, sustainability and structure matter more than celebrity associations.

“Sharjah Cricket Academy was started back in 1984. It’s one of the oldest in the country,” said Khan. “Over the past 10 to 15 years, many academies have mushroomed across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. A lot of them have done great work — especially in nurturing local kids who now make up a large portion of the national team.”

Khan noted that the lack of cricket infrastructure in schools puts additional pressure on academies to deliver. He urged parents to look beyond branding.

“A lot of parents hop between academies every couple of years. That’s not how you develop a cricketer,” he said. “Continuity is a must. A good academy with stable coaching staff, proper match exposure, and a proven track record will always bring out the best in a child.”

The Sharjah academy currently trains around 140 students across various age groups — some as young as seven. Under the leadership of former UAE captain Khurram Khan and a diverse coaching team from India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and elsewhere, the programme blends technical training with regular match play.

“Practice sessions alone aren’t enough. Playing matches is what truly shapes a cricketer,” Khan explained. “We make sure our kids play at least one game a week. That’s how they build temperament, game awareness, and confidence.”

Khan also pushed back on the notion that big names equal better academies.

“There are no shortcuts to success. Big names might attract attention initially, but they don’t necessarily offer a real solution,” he said. “Part-timers or fly-by-night operators won’t help. You need consistent, qualified coaching. That’s what parents should be looking for.”

The road ahead: Reform and responsibility

With the ECB working to formalise a nationwide registration and licensing framework, and veteran voices like Rajput and Khan calling for accountability and structure, the Rohit Sharma Academy episode could become a turning point for youth cricket in the UAE.

The proposed guidelines are expected to mandate registration, background checks, staff qualifications, and venue compliance. This could help eliminate the risk of abrupt closures, payment disputes, and reputational damage to both local entities and the international names they partner with.

For parents, the message is clear: look beyond the glamour. Choose academies that offer structure, certified coaches, and developmental consistency — not just a famous name on the wall.

As the UAE continues to position itself as a serious cricketing destination, particularly at the grassroots and franchise levels, strengthening the base is not optional — it’s essential.