Sharjah: Sharjah Cricket Stadium will soon add another feather to its cap by creating an indoor cricket facility which will host the 2017 Indoor Cricket World Cup.
Speaking to Gulf News during the Sharjah Cricket Stadium’s Annual Day celebrations on Monday evening, Mazhar Khan, general manager of the stadium, said: “Work on creating an indoor cricket facility has begun and will be ready by this December. It will adhere to world class indoor cricket standards. Plans are on to stage the 2017 Indoor World Cup, to be held during October-November with all top nations competing.”
The Sharjah venue, developed by Abdul Rehman Bukhatir to bring international cricket to the UAE in early 1980s, has many firsts to its credit — having staged all formats of the game and figures in the Guinness World Records for hosting the maximum number of One Day Internationals in the world.
The annual day function was attended by Waleed Bukhatir and Khalaf Bukhatir, the sons of Abdul Rehman Bukhatir. They gave away mementoes to the young trainees of the Sharjah Cricket Academy. This academy which was established in 1985 is the UAE’s oldest cricket academy.
Waleed, who is also the vice-chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Council and chairman of this council’s Al Dhaid Cricket Village, said: “More development programmes are being introduced. The gymnasiums at the stadium will cater to the fitness of the cricketers. We will also have the first ladies only gymnasium and to train both men and women, there will be specialised personal trainers. The indoor facility will also have a badminton court.”
Elaborating on the indoor facility, Khan said: “There will be three pitches inside the indoor centre. It will adhere to the international indoor stadium standards of 12 metre by 30 metre pitches. For spectators, there will be a first-floor gallery. Once completed, it will be open for local indoor tournaments.”
The Sharjah stadium will be introducing the latest bowling machines and the indoor facility will remain open 24 hours all seven days a week for cricketers who want to train indoors. Plans are also on to boost the activities of the Sharjah Cricket Academy with Irfan Ansari as head coach. Level 3 coach Mohammad Hyder Ali and eight Level 2 coaches will assist him.
“Very soon, bus services will be provided to bring trainees to the stadium and thus ease the pressure on the parents who have to now drive them to the stadium. Coaching will be held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and for match practice, the Sharjah stadium pitch and Al Dhaid cricket village ground will be used,” said Khan.
