Abu Dhabi organisers trying to rope in World XI

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India not having given permission for an Indian team to play Pakistan in an exhibition match at Abu Dhabi, the sponsors and local cricket officials are trying to assemble a World XI for the day-night match to be played on May 14.

BR Shetty, a prominent Abu Dhabi-based businessman who is also president of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Control Board, was recently in India, trying to convince Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, and Vikram Verma, the Minister for Sports, that India should send a team.

"I spoke to Dalmiya and he said our request will be put before the Board," he said in an interview with Gulf News. "However, that will take time and we will now seek our chairman Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan's permission to try and field a World XI."

The match is the first to be played at the state-of-the-art stadium, and prizemoney of $100,000 is on offer. "As much as we would like it to be an Indian XI v Pakistan XI contest, we are also looking at a contingency plan," said Shetty. "If the Indian XI does not come we will try and get a better XI from the other Test-playing countries."

On Saturday, the BCCI had said that nobody had sought its permission before organising the game.

Inzamam-ul-Haq will be leading the Pakistan XI, and Shetty thanked him for his support. "I also would like to convey my gratitude to Inzamam-ul-Haq and the current Pakistan cricketers, who have stood by us," he said. "We would not like to disappoint the UAE fans and, pending approval from Sheikh Nahyan, we hope to get some top players."

But with most of the top sides engaged in matches, or resting after busy seasons, the organisers may well have to settle for a motley crew of former players and international discards.