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Cricket is without doubt the most popular sport among the UAE's large sub-continent expatriate population and Al Shindagah pads up to look at the plans for a new facility that is set to elevate the sport here to a new level
Take a drive around any urban area of the United Arab Emirates on a Friday and the
odds are that you will see someone, somewhere playing cricket. Anywhere will do: football fields, waste ground, even roads as the large number of sub-continental
expatriates gets its weekly fix of its favourite addiction. Indians, Sri Lankans and Pakistanis in particular are cricket mad. Whenever there is a
match on the television, the UAE's small restaurants and garage cafes are packed, and stars like Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan's pace man Waqar
Younis are idolised by the masses. All the hysteria and passion shown by these supporters is captured best at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which has hosted top
level one-day tournaments since the 1980's. It has since become the home of the most number of international one-day matches. Some of the best cricketers in
history have graced its lawns and it has helped Sharjah to become one of the most famous cricketing venues in the world.
The atmosphere in the terraces, which hold up to 30,000 fans, is fierce especially when archrivals India and Pakistan do battle in the neutral venue.
But soon the northern emirate is set to face a challenge from its southern big brother of Abu Dhabi. The country's capital has begun the erection of a futuristic
cricket stadium, which is set to become one of the most eye-catching in the world. The plans and artist's impression of the Zayed International Cricket Stadium are
breathtaking enough, so there is an understandable excitement coming from the cricket fraternity not only in the UAE but from overseas as well. The project, which
is being headed by Dubai-based construction giants, Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises, is to construct a 22,000-seat stadium with approximately 9,000 seats in
the shade.This will be achieved by the erection of a north concrete seating area; a west and east grassed terraced area, and a south stand area with a rising crescent
140m long roof shade. The roof shade is the feature that will become an immediate addition to the cricketing wonders of the world, rivaling the futuristic press box at
Lord's or the jaw-dropping magnificence of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The roof will jut out in the conceptual form of the peak on a cricketer's cap, creating an
immediate spectacle to be admired for both residents of Abu Dhabi and international visitors alike. The roof will curve over the south stand which will also have VIP
facilities, spectator boxes, press and media rooms, changing rooms, kitchen and restaurant areas. There will be a separate circular clubhouse for indoor games,
gymnasium, two squash courts and other amenities. The north concrete stand will have a total area of 2,800m? with a ground floor plan area of 750m?. The height of
the structure is 9.5m high and the terrace will have seating for approximately 6,000 people, three access staircases and toilet facilities.
The south stand has a total area of 9,400m? with a ground floor plan area of 2,200m?. The stand is 23.5m high and has a ground floor and four other levels with a
seating area for approximately 9,000 people. Access is via eight staircases and a lift to the higher levels. The stands will be erected in concrete with the terrace seating
formed in precast concrete slabs. The new venue, to be located near Mussafah, will be breathtaking and it is sure to attract a host of the world's top cricket nations to the UAE capital.
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