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International cricket moves to Abu Dhabi

Ashok Tuteja in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, will soon become a venue for international cricket when a three-nation limited overs tournament, featuring India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is staged here from November 30.

The tournment venue, the flood-lit Al Jazira stadium, an international venue for football, will be converted into a cricket stadium for the three league matches.

The India A team will be led by experienced wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia and will include Vinod Kambli, Rohan Gavaskar and Gyanendra Pandey.

Pakistan will be led by Rashid Latif, another wicketkeeper batsman and former captain, while Hasan Tillekratne is expected to lead Sri Lanka.

Pakistan will also have the services of Shahid Afridi, one of the most exciting cricketers in one-day cricket. Besides, the team will include Arshad Khan, Akhtar Sarfraz, Kabir Khan and Saleem Elahi.

The Sri Lankan squad will include internationals Chandika Hathurusinghe, Ruwan Kalpage, Eric Upashantha, Mario Vellavarayan, Saman Jayantha and Chaminda Mendis.

Local media quoted Mansoor Javed, president of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council (ADCC) as saying that the staging of the tournament would further popularise the game in the UAE.

The tournament coincides with UAE national day celebrations. "We need to showcase the sport to the nationals and there is no better time than the country's national day celebrations. In fact, it is purely a part of the celebrations that we hope to have as an annual event,'' he stressed.

Mansoor also felt that the inaugural tournement would lead to several plans the authorities had in store to promote the game in the capital city.

''Cricket in Abu Dhabi has not got the basic facilities. However, the sport has thrived despite all the difficulties. It is very hard to explain our plans, without being able to get the facilities,'' he added.

The ground will be laid with an artificial pitch, especially flown in from England.

The boards of control for cricket in the three countries have picked up the best possible teams available at a short notice. The two umpires will be from England while the third will be from the Emirates.