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June 16, 2006

Dubai

Dubai’s cricket oasis bulldozed

Martin Williamson





Mike Gatting has described the demise of the Dubai Cricket Council grounds in Al Jadaf as a “crying shame.” Gatting last played at the ground in March, when he captained the Lord’s Taverners in their annual charity fixture against Fly Emirates.

The DCC grounds, which housed seven cricket pitches, staged 500 matches a year until they were bulldozed last month to make way for what will eventually become Dubai Healthcare City. A replacement venue has yet to be found.

“I loved playing at the ground in Dubai, it was a little oasis out there, and it’s a crying shame that the facilities there couldn’t be saved. You just hope that somebody there might relocate them, but with the pace of development in Dubai that won’t be easy."

Martin Williamson is executive editor of ESPNcricinfo and managing editor of ESPN Digital Media in Europe, the Middle East and Africa

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martin Williamson
Executive editor Martin Williamson joined the Wisden website in its planning stages in 2001 after failing to make his millions in the internet boom when managing editor of Sportal. Before that he was in charge of Sky Sports Online and helped launch and run Sky News Online. With a preference for all things old (except his wife and children), he has recently confounded colleagues by displaying an uncharacteristic fondness for Twenty20 cricket. His enthusiasm for the game is sadly not matched by his ability, but he remains convinced that he might be a late developer and perseveres in the hope of an England call-up with his middle-order batting and non-spinning offbreaks. He is now managing editor of ESPN EMEA Digital Group as well as his Cricinfo responsibilities.

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