UAE Cricket stadiums - Arabian delights - Part 1 - Opinion
A cricket ground is considered to be a temple, an altar or a shrine, where ritual offerings can be made by alacritous cricketers. It is a place, where arrays of artists are given their due respect, as they become overawed by their surroundings and bathe
in the winter sunshine. For Eastern worshippers however, it is about playing in conditions which are hostile, yet test the resilience of those who dwell in humble meditation. There really is no place like a cricket ground for any cricketer, as the joys of
sitting in air conditioned pavilions often coincides with the harsh realities of embarking on pilgrimages on the pitch.
For those living in West Asia, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 offers an array of playing fields which are arguably the finest in the world. Not many would dispute that playing in the Emirates is a unique experience, with batting friendly wickets helping in ensure
high scoring games. Yet there is more than just the oven baked pitches which are available to the batsman. The state-of-the-art facilities at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the DSC stadium in Dubai, have given cricket lovers and players
a unique experience. Room for the bowlers to exploit the conditions has been provided by the pitches at Abu Dhabi and Dubai, resulting in heated confrontations between batsmen and bowlers.
The diversity of the pitches however, is just one side of the coin. The grounds in the Emirates are the best in the world in terms of player facilities, outfields and accessibility. The lush green grass in the desert climate at Sharjah goes hand in hand
with the grass embankments at Abu Dhabi. In addition the DSC stadium provides a ‘ring of fire’, with its towering stands reminiscent of the Gabba in Brisbane. Playing a game at Dubai is thus a riveting experience as the dome like structures which envelope
the field gives it an aura of a sacred shrine. Much to the delight of many Emirati cricket fans, the contests on the pitch have been as sacred as the venue itself.
Dubai’s ring of fire has also made it a popular ground for the home side Pakistan and touring parties as well because of its unique playing experience. Playing a game at the DSC stadium is considered to be completely different as compared to playing a match
in Worcester or Colombo. The dry conditions, lush green outfield and towering stands give it a similar feel, to the Soccer City in Johannesburg. The latter resembles an African melting pot, and it is fair to say that the DSC, looks more like a space ship which
is about to be deployed with good effect.
In terms of quality, not many would dispute its status as the UAE’s best cricket ground. Despite hosting just a handful of matches which have featured http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 on almost all occasions, the DSC is a personification of the multicultural complexion of the city
of Dubai.
The large Pakistani contingent in the city has also drawn a wealth of individuals wearing shalwar kameez’s, who tend to inundate the ground with their presence, fervour and flavour. The fluttering flags which bear the crescent and the star along
with the green and white tend to litter the ground on many occasions and exhibit scenes of jubilation, especially whenever Pakistan wins. Much to the crowd's delight, the de facto home side seldom disappoints and the ground can truly be considered as Pakistani,
in color, flavor and in terms of support.
Continued in Part 2...
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