Special Correspondent
DUBAI: When architect Awsam Matloob was designing the Dubai international cricket stadium, formerly known as Dubai Sports City Cricket stadium, had never thought that this venue will salvage cricket in many ways. It is multipurpose stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000.
We visited this picturesque stadium Wednesday which was opened on April 22, 2009 with the first ODI played between Pakistan and Australia. The first cricket test match was played from 12-16 November 2010, between Pakistan and South Africa in this Stadium.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium has round roof unlike other cricket stadiums. The unique feature of this Stadium is its flood lights which are known as ‘Ring of Fire’.
Historically speaking the Stadium has played a great part in providing venue to different series of Test, ODI and T20 for Pakistan after the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore resulting that the teams avoided playing cricket in Pakistan. At this juncture when there was no international matches were played in Pakistan, this stadium salvaged and Pakistan being host organized cricket matches in which almost all top teams took part in it. Not only Pakistan in 2021 IPL was also shifted to this stadium due to outbreak of Covid.
Dubai international cricket stadium is the venue of Asia Cup 2022, because due to economic and political crisis the Sri Lankan board has shown their inability to host it in Sri Lanka. So quite rightly one can say that Dubai Stadium is salvaging cricket for different countries.
The venue is ready to host the 15th edition of Asia Cup from August 27, 2022-September 11, 2022.
