IPL will help cricket grow in the region, states UAE coach Javed

Denzil Pinto 10:04 13/03/2014
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  • Big gun: Delhi Daredevils’ Kevin Pietersen will be a huge draw in IPL 7.

    UAE national coach Aaqib Javed hailed the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to co-host IPL matches in the Emirates, saying the tournament could attract more Emiratis to cricket.

    IPL organisers confirmed on Wednesday that the opening 16 matches of the tournament will be held in the UAE, from April 16 to 30.

    Sport360° understands Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive officer David East will meet with IPL officials today (Thursday) in the UAE capital to discuss the number of matches to be played at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah – the three chosen venues for the IPL games in the UAE.

    The general elections in India have forced tournament organisers to move the opening matches to the UAE, with Bangladesh on standby to play host in early May.

    After the UAE leg, the competition will move to either Bangladesh or India from May 1 to 12. Following the conclusion of the general elections on May 12, India will stage the final matches of the tournament, which will end on June 1.

    “BCCI is very grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board, its Chairman, HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, and the government of the UAE for their offer of wholehearted support to host the Pepsi IPL for this period,” a BCCI statement said.

    All eight IPL teams are expected to turn out in the UAE with Royal Challengers leading a star-studded line-up comprising Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Yuvraj Singh.

    Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings), Mitchell Johnson (Kings XI Punjab), Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals), Kevin Pietersen (Delhi Daredevils), Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) and David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are the big players who will add glitter to the event.

    Javed, who is in Bangladesh with the senior squad for the World Twenty20, insists the IPL matches can only be a good thing for UAE.

    “It’s a good opportunity to raise the profile of cricket here (in UAE),” said Javed, who has made 163 ODI appearances for Pakistan. “The IPL is huge and it’s a big welcome to the UAE. It will definitely help get more people into cricket and I hope it can attract the local Emiratis – because it would be a good platform for them to learn about cricket.

    “The IPL is full of excitement and drama and holding the matches in the UAE will give help raise the profile and send a positive message to people around the world that UAE can host big events.”

    And UAE captain Khurram Khan echoed Javed’s view, saying: “The IPL will definitely be a learning curve for players. The opportunity to see these top international players like Chris Gayle and David Warner in action is a big boost for us. 

    “We can learn a lot from them – from how they bat, bowl, field and how they deal with the pressures of the game. The tournament will definitely inspire the youngsters to take up the sport.

    “Which cricket fan wouldn’t be interested in the biggest T20 domestic competition? Just watching the big name players in action can help expats and Emiratis to take up the sport which will be brilliant for the future of cricket in the UAE.”

    IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal said: “The government of UAE has given us assurances that they would be giving us adequate facilities, including security during the tournament.”

    New Zealand bowler Anton Devcich, who played two warm-up matches at Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of their preparations for the upcoming World Twenty20 this month, also believes these are ‘exciting’ times for the country.

    “It’s obviously the biggest T20 domestic competition going around. The more publicity and more games played here can only boost UAE cricket,” said Devcich. 

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