12BET India Feature: The stadiums in UAE that likely to host the IPL season
In 2009, South Africa hosted the second Indian Premier League, while the first half of the 2014 season took place across three stadiums in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. According to a recent report, the 13th edition of the cash-rich league (IPL) is all set to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Here are the possible venues for the upcoming season of the much awaited T20 tournament:
But you can read out latest update about IPL to commence on September in UAE according to reports in 12BET India.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium
The 22-million-dollar Sheikh Zayed stadium, located in Abu Dhabi, hosted the opening ceremony and the portion of the first leg of the tournament. Located in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed stadium is arguably one of the world’s finest cricket grounds. With a capacity of 20,000 spectators, the stadium has a large stand at both ends, while the areas square of the wicket offering grass banks for additional seating.
Aside the IPL 2014, many international series have been played in the this stadium, including the back-to-back charity matches between rivals Pakistan and India in April 2006 that raised $10 million for earthquake relief to support the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. In 2009, the stadium hosted a number of domestic cricket matches, mostly fixtures in the Nissan Gulf Cup.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
The Dubai International Cricket stadium in Dubai, one of three biggest stadiums in the country, formerly known as the Dubai Sports City Cricket stadium is a multi-purpose stadium that is mainly used for cricket events. Designed by Canadian architect, Awsam Matloob, the Stadium has a capacity of 25,000 spectators, but is expandable to 30,000. It hosted several domestic and international cricket games.
The stadium also boasts of a unique lighting system named ‘Ring of Fire’. This kind of lighting system has 350 floodlights fixed around the circumference of the round roof of the stadium that minimizes the shadows of objects in the ground. The first IPL game hosted by this stadium was the match netween Royal Challengers Bangalore against Mumbai Indians.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Following India’s World Cup win in 1983, the Sharjah Cricket stadium became a popular venue for cricket tournaments. Located in the emirate of Sharjah, the stadium was built in the early 1980 with a capacity of 16,000 spectators. It hosted its first international matches in the 1984 edition of Asia Cup. Following the match-fixing scandals, the popularity of the stadium witnessed a downfall in the late 1990s.
Sharjah cricket stadium is one of the few Test Cricket Grounds at which a Test match has been played not involving a home country participant. In 2011, the Guinness Book of Records recorded the Sharjah stadium as hosting the greatest number of one-day matches. The match between Royal Challengers Bangalore against Delhi Daredevils was staged in this stadium.
