Debasis Sen, Dubai: As India and Pakistan will clash against each other on Wednesday in the group league tie of Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium, another stadium where the event was staged for the first time in 1984 will wear a deserted look. Sharjah Cricket Stadium was the venue where it all began.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium is the only venue to stage the most number of international matches (236 till date) which earned its name in the Guiness Book of Records. The stadium saw some epic Indo-Pak encounters but presently lost all its glamour struggling to keep pace with the newly built Dubai International Stadium. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), organizers of the Asia Cup thought it wise to stage the matches in Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Stadium.
As you walk into the main gate, your eyes will draw towards the debris. The blue chairs in the stands are turned into white with full of dust, a clear picture of the stadium not being maintained properly. You will find rubbish all around the stands indicating that matches are not played regularly in this venue. The ground though looks perfect with the groundsmen working tirelessly.
The stadium authorities though is not concerned with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) not keeping any matches of the Asia Cup.
According to Mr Mazhar Khan, the general manager of the stadium, “ You know not only the first Asia Cup in 1984 but also the second one in 1995. I think they were looking for two venues to host this event because probably they felt that the third venue will be a bit expensive. We are ok with that because cricket still goes on. We want to let you know that we are hosting the Afghanistan Premier League starting from October 1. This league will feature Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and all the big names. So we are not lagging behind and we have quite a busy season next year. We are also hoping IPL will be held here in 2019.”
It was Sharjah where the first flame for cricket in UAE was lit up. Compared to the new Dubai International Stadium, it is located at the heart of the city which makes it accessible for all the fans.
The brainchild behind the Cricketers Benevolent Fund Series (CBFS), Mr Abdul Rahman Bukhatir is not well these days but keeps a track on the activities around. It was Bukhatir who approached the former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal and shared his thoughts of staging a match between Gavaskar XI and Miandad XI.
The former Pakistan cricketer in an interview to www.xtratime.in taken recently in London shared his memories.
“I went to Pakistan and had a chat with my fellow teammates like Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Javed Miadad and others. Miandad was the captain of the side on that time of Pakistan team and they all agreed. Then I went to India and met Mr Madhav Mantri who was a relative of Sunil Gavaskar and he assured me that if the players agree he will bring the team. So he spoke to Sunil who was in Australia and he agreed. Later I came back to Sharjah and told Mr. Bukhatir that there is a Miandad XI and the other is Gavaskar XI. They will be coming to play the match”, said Asif Iqbal to www.xtratime.in
It is just a shame that the tournament which has returned after 34 years is not staging a match.