Dubai announces Arabian Cricket League

The ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA) celebrated its first year of operation at its Dubai Sports City (DSC) facility this week by announcing its Arabian Cricket League (ACL) for corporate and club teams to take place in November and December 2011.

The ACL, run under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council, will see 16 teams divided into four groups with each team playing a minimum of six matches ahead of semi-finals and a final.

The Twenty20 tournament will run on Monday to Thursday evenings every week from November 1, under lights at the ICC GCA Ovals, and will culminate with a final on December 29.

Teams wanting to get involved can call +971 4 448 1355 or email iccgca@dxbsport.com. Registrations close on October 30 but the event is likely to be popular so early enquiries are encouraged.

ICC GCA Operations Manager Salman Hanif said: “We wanted to do something special for the ICC GCA’s first anniversary of operation at Dubai Sports City and so we’ve come up with the Arabian Cricket League. Most local tournaments involve teams playing over a 10 to 15-day period but we want to give those passionate people something more and to be involved for a longer period of time.

“The Arabian Cricket League will involve 51 matches over 50 days in November and December and with a guaranteed minimum of six matches for each team, all under floodlights, it is a superb opportunity for cricketers to experience the world’s-best facilities for themselves at the ICC GCA.”

The ACL is will feature prize money of AED15000 for the winning team with AED7500 to the losing finalist. The tournament will become a permanent feature in the ICC GCA calendar of events.