Historic UAE Cricket Venue Busy Again With International Matches

The UAE's Sharjah Cricket Stadium, "which has been recognised as hosts of highest number of One Day Internationals, has once again become the stage for keen contests as fans thronged the stands to enjoy the intense action again," according to K.R. Nayar of the GULF NEWS. Previous match-fixing allegations that disparaged the image of the venue and held back teams from competing there have "been blown away, with the Int'l Cricket Council giving the venue a clean chit." Currently, the venue serves as the home grounds of three teams -- Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UAE. The Sharjah Cricket Club, which owns the stadium, "sprang into action as soon as top int'l matches were allotted" to the venue. Abdul Rehman Bukhatir "brought int'l cricket to the desert" by building the stadium. His son, Waleed Bukhatir, Sharjah Cricket Club vice chair & Emirates Cricket Board exec member, said: "We are working hard to recreate the same glory that made Sharjah a special venue" (GULF NEWS, 11/25).