1. ICC Cricket Academy
Started 2010, originally known as the ICC Global Cricket Academy
Coaches Led by former Test star Mudassar Nazar
The facility The ICC Academyhas the best state-of-the-art facilities, indoor training facility, a fielding area and seven pitches of varying character. Cameras for technical analysis. State-of-the-art video analysis room, dedicated gymnasium. Ground: Has got two floodlit oval grounds for match practice.
Programmes The academy has regular coaching programmes not only for juniors but also schools and even professionals.
Location Dubai Sports City and managed by ICC Phone 04 4481355 Email info@iccacademy.net Website ICC
2. Sharjah Cricket Academy
Started 1989 (oldest cricket academy in UAE under, Sharjah Cricket Council)
Coaches and trainees There are eight coaches. They are all ACC Level 1 to Level 3 coaches. The head coach is Mohammed Hyder. There are more than 150, age from 7 to 16.
The facility Sharjah Cricket Stadium with six turf and three cement wicket. Three days a week training on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
ToursSri Lanka and UK every year, regularly invites overseas teams. Twenty-four players from this academy play for UAE’s different age category teams. Also trains 20 girls.
Location Sharjah Cricket Stadium Phone 06 5433154
3. Desert Cubs Cricket Academy
Started October 16, 2007
Coaches and trainees There are 35 qualified from ICC, ACC, ECB and Cricket Australia, as well as 750 trainees. The head coach is Presley Polonowitta. Top foreign coaches are flown in from time to time. These include Rumesh Ratnayake, Siddarth Wettimuny, and Champika Ramanayke.
Tours Flew out trainees to Sri Lanka, England, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Oman and Qatar. During tours, conducted clinics with Test stars Gordon Greenidge, Arjuna Ranatunga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Nuwan Soysa.
Locations Dubai College Jumeirah, Deira International School in Festival City and Sharjah English School Phone 06 5426449 Website Desert Cubs
4. G Force Cricket Academy
Started 2004 as Cricketlovers Academy and in 2007 changed its name to G Force Academy.
Coaches and trainees There are seven coaches, all qualified to Level 2 and Level 1. They have 150 trainees across three batches training on Fridays and Saturdays. The head coach is Gopal Jasapara. Top foreign coaches are flown in frequently and include: Ramakant Achrekar (Sachin Tendulkar’s coach), T.A. Sekar, Jimmy Adams, Desmond Haynes, Iqbal Sikandar, Dav Whatmore, Jonty Rhodes, Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Ian Trott and Pravin Amre.
Tours They tour twice a year to India and England, and conduct camps and organise tournaments.
Locations DPS Academy in Academic City. Soon opening in DPS Academy, Sharjah Phone 050 4559083 Website G Force
5. Spring Cricket Academy
Started 2009
Coaches and trainees There are nine coaches, all qualified to NIS, NCA, ICC standards. The head coach is Biju Nair. There are more than 100 trainees.
The facility Specialised training equipment for fitness, agility and strength training besides junior and senior (hardball and cricket ball) bowling machine, specialised soft bowling machine for pull and hook shot training, One fielding machine that is unique and only available with this academy.
ToursOman and India
Locations JSS Private School near Al Safa Park, Winchester School in Jebel Ali, Bilva Indian School in Al Qusais and Body and Soul in Ajman Phone 050 7521954 Website Spring
6. Maxtalent Cricket Academy
Started 2006
Coaches and trainees There are 13 coaches. They are ACC, BCCI, Cricket Australia and ICC Academy coaches. Head coach is Sudhakar Shetty. The academy has 175 trainees. Top foreign coaches are flown in and include Gary Kirsten, Jonty Rhodes, Saqlain Mushtaq, Craig McDermott, and Meyrick Pringle.
Tours Mumbai (December) to conduct MGS Challenge Cup, Mumbai Chapter; Surrey (July and August) for Boys Under-13 and Under-16 MGS challenge Cup UK Chapter; Nairobi (August), Kenya or Johannesburg (South Africa) alternate years for boys under-20 tour matches; Muscat (March) for boys Under-11, Under-13 and Under-16 tournaments and matches.
Locations Springdale School Dubai (Al Quoz), Sharjah Indian School (Sharjah), Victoria International School Sharjah and Abu Dhabi University Phone 050 6251547 Website Max Talent
7. JTS Cricket Academy
Started 1995
Coaches and trainees It is run by Jairaj Thakur, who personally coaches trainees as he believes only in one-to-one coaching. He was among the first cricketers to qualify as a coach in UAE, when in 1999 he flew to Australia to get a Level 1 accreditation from Cricket Australia. He took Level 2 accreditation from Malaysia as ACC coach. Inspired trainees by personally scoring six unbeaten double centuries in domestic cricket between 2003 and 2005.
Programmes Summer/winter and holiday camps with special focus on each department of the game to cater for all formats. Top players and umpires include Mohammad Azharuddin, Anshuman Gaekwad, Ajay Jadeja, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mark Waugh, Avisha Dharmasena, Richie Richardson, Javagal Srinath, Aravinda De Silva and umpire Bruce Oxenford.
Location Mankhool, Bur Dubai Phone 050 6955284 Website JTS
8. Emirates Cricket Training Dubai
Started 1998
Coaches and trainees Coaches include UAE players Rizwan Latif, Shakil Latif and Aqeel Ahmad. Coaches are flown in from time to time and include Mushtaq Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad, Madanlal and late Tasleem Arif. The head coach is Shakil Latif. More than 100 trainees from the age of six are on the books.
The facility Artificial turf, bowling machine, two cement nets. Associated with Purley Cricket Club, Surrey, and flies trainees to play in English cricket league as guests.
Tours Every year to UK, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and Oman.
Location The Indian Academy School Ground, al Qusais, Dubai, UAE Phone 050 5750927, 050 4973461 Website ECT
9. Young Talents Cricket Academy
Started 1998
Coaches and trainees There are 12 coaches who are all qualified Level One and Level Two. Head coach is Shahzad Altaf. They have more than 200 trainees. Top foreign coaches are flown in and include Mushtaq Mohammad, Tauseef Ahmad and Madanlal.
Tours Stages tournament in UK inviting teams from India like Cricket Federation of India, Madanlal Cricket Academy and Durham county team in August. This academy’s annual Gulf Cup has unearthed many talents.
Locations Skyline University in Sharjah, Al Sadiq Islamic School in Al Quasais, Pakistan Association in Bur Dubai, Al Ain Sportsplex Phone 055 1075277 Website Young Talent
10. Unique Cricket Training
Started 1999
Coaches and trainees There are three coaches who are all Level One and Level Two qualified. The head coach is Akbar Rana, former UAE player who qualified as coach and umpire from South Africa.
Programmes Age group training for 8 to 11 and 12 to 16 year olds. Provides coaching to bank employees and professionals every Friday and Saturday.
Tours Kenya, South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand, US, Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Locations Affiliated with Sharjah Cricket Council, hence conducts camps in different centres in Sharjah Phone 050 6776302 Email aliak@live.com
11. MCC Zayed Academy
Coaches and trainees Qualifies coaches are on hand. Membership is open to boys aged between 7 and 19 years.
The facility Five turf wickets (international standard), three all-weather cement pitches, high performance flood lighting, variable speed bowling machine. Academy timings include two-hour sessions on Thursday: 6-8pm and 8-10pm; Friday: 4-6pm, 6-8pm and 8-10pm; Saturday: 4-6pm. The monthly fee is Dh400.
Location Next to Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi Phone 02 5585615 or 02 5588331
12. Emirates Cricket Training, Sharjah
Started 2005
Coaches and trainees There are three qualified coaches as well as over 50 trainees. Coaches flown in include Test star Tauseef Ahmad, who launched the academy. The head coach is Kashif Ahmed, who is the nephew of Tauseef Ahmad.
Tours Sri Lanka.
Location Madina Centre, Sharjah (every Thursday and Friday) Phone 050 2365737 Email kashifcsl@yahoo.com
