| Fan's eye view: Shame about the cricket, but three cheers for Dubai | | | Dubai, Apr 29: As a cricket supporter and overall enthusiast, the Pepsi IPL not only brings some of the best elements of the sport together, but the 2014 edition brought it to the UAE. Due to the Indian elections taking place, the first two weeks of the annual tournament were skillfully re-located to the three emirates of Sharjah, Dubai and the capital, Abu Dhabi.
Having started on April 16, the UAE experiences two weeks of intense T20 cricket, which has resulted in outstanding sold out games for all matches in all venues. Granted, yes almost 90% of those that attend are namely from the subcontinent, some of the world's die-hard cricket fans (literally, with some going over the top and at times falling beyond the categories of outlandish or eccentric, but still encompassing the "spirit of the game"! Which basically means that it's damn well entertaining for us, and everyone else made me think maybe having half the tournament here again wouldn't be such a bad idea. Selfish? A little, yes. I just need to drive 20 minutes to the stadium, as you do in most places in Dubai - not during rush hours, of course. I wouldn't say no to that, and I don't think the organisers - on both sides, would either. What better way would there be to satisfy the sporting thirst in two countries and over some billion people? The charm of cricket - and especially with the third and shortest format of the game, is that the energy that comes with it, truly is infectious. I was accompanied to this match by four very un-cricket loving people. Their willingness to join me, I believe, was made up of friendship (mainly), interest (not so much), and curiosity - to find out what and why I always go on about this sport, especially since it was the first time for three at a match, ever. The Dubai International stadium is a beautiful ground. The walk to the stadium and areas around it, are questionable, but they'll get there. It's never easy herding people - and boy, are there a lot of people - towards their designated ticket entrances, while at the same time conducting people are to walk on this side, while the cars stay to that. The exterior represents a three-tiered cake, with the two lower levels panelled dictating the various sections of 22 gates and nine zones, and the top emulating frosty icing made up of the awnings that aid in conducting a breeze around the grounds. Kings XI Punjab were the clear favorites that night, starting their fifth match undefeated, with their red and silver shirts, afros, flags and banners heavily peppered throughout the 25,000 capacity crowd. Cheerleaders, in true IPL fashion, cheered on their respective teams at each boundary, wicket and innings break. The ladies with white po- poms and synchronised their hippie shakes and bootylicious bounces, encouraging the Dubai crowd to move along with them; some attempted, not so successfully.
A first of its kind, the multi-purpose stadium is among the most advanced of its kind, with next-generation facilities for players, officials, VIPs, spectators and the media, with the overall design meeting all ICC specifications for hosting international cricket fixtures. Fun fact, which I was happy to share with my friends, who were getting into the game: the stadium is lit by a special system of floodlights named 'Ring of Fire', and covers the entire circumference of the round roof of the stadium, minimizing the shadows, and giving us some old-school Johnny Cash in-between overs.
Not much of a contest between the 11 Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore ensued, KXIP managing to efficiently and entertainingly reach the average target of 124, winning by five wickets. Sat in the middle of my group between two lovely girlfriends of mine on the left, and happy couple on my right, I would switch between sharing the name and international team of the "cute tall guy" or "fit one with the cap" on one side, and how if the ball hit the wicketkeeper's helmet it was an automatic five runs on the other, all the while trying to make sure they were having a good time. Four hours is a long time for a non-cricket fan.
That part, though, I didn't have to worry about, as soon enough (over 12 of the first innings), they would be dancing between overs to either the Hindi or English music that was played between overs - one even getting up and putting the cheerleaders to shame - much to the glee of the men around us; counting down from the strategic time outs, taking photos of the ground, the crowd; chatting to their neighbours, and making boundary gestures as they happened, (and what does it matter if she signalled a four for a six, it was her excitement that had taken over, and was winning. Unlike the Challengers).
Chris Gayle set off the game with a crazy first over with a boundary bonanza, got the crowd up and ready for a show (which lasted one over) chanting his name, even my posse who didn't know the difference between the Gayle Force and a gale force. Virender Sehwag's nickname of 'Viru' was dropped causally in conversation during the ride home due to the times it flashed on the stadium screens accompanying the vuvuzela-like hooter sound. Which to be fair gave them enough time to learn about one of the most destructive players in the world. But the fact is they remembered!
Here's to the next remaining games in the UAE, and maybe a return next year. There's so much more they can learn, and dance to, and sing along with. And, of course, to seeing who will join me at the next match! |
|
