Indoor Summer Cricket Tournament: Enclosed Excitement
Peak summer has no bearing on these amateur cricket enthusiasts in Dubai
Dubai: It's the end of another long day at the office and the heat isn't helping. While most of Dubai's dedicated workforce are thinking of nothing but a swift return to their cosy homes, a group of cricket crazy men are in a rush of their own. As far as they are concerned, all roads lead to the ICC Global Cricket Academy at Dubai Sports City which is hosting its first Indoor Summer Cricket Tournament.
And watching them in action, their idea of a soothing way to end the day just gets clearer with every delivery.
Examples
"We are examples [for others]," Manoj Monga, skipper of X-Men United says with a cheeky grin. "This is the only thing which we guys like doing on weekdays. Come and spend some time here. There are no hurdles for us not to come. We play for the enjoyment. Wherever there is a tournament, we are there."
Monga's men indeed got off to an enjoyable start in the 12-team tournament which the ICC GCA is conducting in partnership with the Dubai Cricket Council. X-Men United had just too much firepower for the Weekend Warriors as they sealed a comfortable 35-run victory.
What would have worked in favour of the victors is the fact that they are well versed with the indoor format unlike their opponents.
"We are totally familiar with the concept because we play at Insportz as well," Monga says referring to the popular indoor sports centre at Al Quoz. "The rules are the same, the only difference is the area is slightly bigger and the facilities are better."
Weekend Warriors paid a heavy price for losing one too many wickets. The rules of this 16 over-a-side indoor game permit each batting pair in an eight-member team to occupy the crease for a maximum of four overs.
However, each time the batsman loses his wicket it sees five runs deducted from the total, something you don't want happening too often especially if you're chasing a target of 80. But Monga's counterpart, Princeton Fernandes, believes the game still served the Weekend Warriors' primary motive of having a good time. "For us, the motto of the club is we compete to have fun, not compete to win," says Fernandes who sees the tournament as a great opportunity to expand the club he helped create only five months ago. "It's a good experience for our guys. For me, it's basically about marketing the club and making sure my guys get the best of facilities. It's also fun to see father and son, who don't get to meet each other much during the week, playing on the same team."
It's already past 10 as players of the two teams make their way out of the air-conditioned floodlit indoor facility, but they all have that look of anticipation, wishing it was already time for game two.
Some indoor cricket rules
- All wides and no balls, apart from a front foot fault, will be credited as two runs and will not be re-bowled. Additional runs can be taken and will be added to the score.
- Each batting pair will bat for 4 overs.
- Five runs will be deducted for each dismissal.
- Apart from the straight hit net, batsmen can be caught off all other nets, including the roof.
- A direct straight hit boundary along the ground is worth four runs plus any additional runs completed. A directly hit straight boundary on the full is worth six runs plus any additional runs completed.
- There are no LBW decisions given.
