The iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium, still one of the world’s leading venues and holder of the Guinness Book of records staging ODIs, is undergoing a makeover as it prepares for the IPL tourney.
New canopies add a splash of colour and the Royal Suite and VIP Hospitality Boxes have been upgraded for great viewing enjoyment. The commentator’s box, so important when there are possibly no spectators, will adhere to the strictest protocols for a biobubble to stay pristine.
Special care is also being taken to make the player’s pavilion and the practice facilities sterile and ultra-safe in compliance with COVID related protocols.
Commenting on the ongoing enhancement project, Waleed Bukhatir, Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium said, “We are taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety of everyone from players support staff to franchise owners and it’s our key aim is to keep that bubble intact right through the tournament. No effort will be spared and we are going about it systematically and scientifically.”
The doyen of cricket in the Gulf and the Chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium Abdul Rahman Bukhatir expressed his delight at IPL 2020 being held in the UAE and added that he had given instructions that the stadium should reflect state-of-the-art facilities and capture the rich history of cricket in the Emirates. Bukhatir added that special attention is being paid to arrangements, which are designed to keep safety norms at the forefront. He expressed his delight that Sharjah will share its renowned warm hospitality with cricket players and audiences from all over the world.
He also took the opportunity to announce that serious plans are in the works to incorporate a cricket museum, which would be fittingly integrated into the stadium complex. The museum will capture the rich history of the stadium so that the cricketing legacy of Sharjah and the UAE is preserved for generations to come. He said it would be a major tourist attraction and be of the very highest standards with the opening soon after the IPL is over.