Dubai Sports City is set to house the future headquarters of the ICC, as well as the ICC Global Cricket Academy. As a result, executives are confident that Dubai will play an increasingly important role in the promotion of regional and international cricket.
Board members at the meeting included ICC GCA Chairman Ehan Mani; ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed; ICC President Ray Mali; Chief Executive of Dubai Sports City, U. Balasubramaniam, ICC GCA Director of Coaching Rod Marsh and DSC President, Khalid Al Zarooni.
President-elect of the ICC, David Morgan, was also present for the meeting, commenting that the progress being made at Dubai Sports City was enormously positive.
“Even at this stage of construction, it is very clear that it [cricket stadium] will be a significant stadium which will have its own charm. The cricket facilities at Dubai Sports City will surely be attractive and helpful to many nations,” said Morgan.
Given Dubai's central geographic location, executives believe that the advanced facilities at Dubai Sports City will be support the training programmes of major cricketing nations from the United Kingdom through to Australia, and will be particularly convenient for near neighbours India and Pakistan.
In addition, plans are in place to support the development of the ICC High Performance Program teams – such as Bermuda, Ireland, Kenya and Canada – whose national teams are being offered full support to take a wider role in international cricket.
One of the unique aspects of the project is the creation of foreign-style cricket pitches, or wickets, to reproduce the exact conditions to be found overseas. This will enable national Teams to prepare for major tests and international competitions in Dubai.
Dubai Sports City will also feature a 25,000-capacity cricket stadium, which is expandable to 30,000. Construction work on this major feature also proceeded significantly, with the core foundation and much of the exterior work completed.
The successful relocation of the ICC to Dubai, which has cemented its position in the heart of the cricket world, has been one of the major achievements under the leadership of Chief Executive Malcolm Speed.
“Having been involved with this project from the beginning, it is a great feeling to see it nearing completion,” says Speed . “It will be truly world class and will be exciting to watch the finishing touches put on it before the first match is played here within the next 12 months.”
Michael Verikios - Monday, February 11, 2008