Cricket mania is reaching fever pitch as the UAE bats for the Indian Premier League matches that will kick off in two weeks amid the glitz, glamour and the sporting spirit that fans are eagerly anticipating.
Following an announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the first phase of Pepsi IPL will be jointly held in the UAE from April 16-30, Dubai is gearing up to welcome fans from near and far for the league’s seventh season.
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The BCCI has announced the ticket pricing and availability for the UAE leg of the event, with tickets going on sale now.
The starting price of tickets is from as low as Dh20 for a single match and Dh30 for double-headers in Abu Dhabi. The UAE capital will sport seven of the 20 IPL 7 matches.
Tickets can be purchased online on www.iplt20.com and www.ticketmaster.ae. They will also be available at selected Lulu Hypermarkets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, from Sunday, April 6, whilst stadium box-office sales will start on Thursday, April 10.
Starting on April 19, Dubai will host seven of the IPL’s 20 UAE matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In Dubai, which will also play host to seven IPL 7 matches, the tickets are priced at Dh30 for a single match and Dh50 for a double-header while in Sharjah, which will see six matches, the pricing is Dh30 for a single match and Dh40 for double-headers. Ticket prices go up to Dh250 for platinum seating.
Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) maintains that the games will be a major pull for tourists in the emirate as it further adds to the city’s growing calendar of entertainment and events.
“This is an excellent opportunity for Dubai to once again showcase to the world that it is a first-class sporting destination,” said Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director of DTCM. “Among sports fans, the IPL will attract global attention and will put Dubai and the UAE firmly in the spotlight, further cementing Dubai’s position as a dynamic events destination in the Menasa region.”
Refer to the table below for further details of the ticket prices -
Along with being a key draw and highlight event for visitors to Dubai, the IPL will also ensure that the eyes of the world will be fixed on the emirates throughout the 14-day tournament, with cricket fans the world over tuning in to watch each of the matches.
“World-class sporting events such as the IPL are also a major focus for Dubai to achieve His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's Tourism Vision 2020 of welcoming 20 million guests by 2020,” added Bin Mejren. “Hosting of the IPL is both a fantastic achievement for the city and its global event standing, as well as a key stepping stone in this vision being realised.”
Winding up to deliver its seven matches, Dubai International Cricket Stadium’s first fixture will see the Royal Challengers Bangalore face the Mumbai Indians on Saturday, April 19, at 2.30pm UAE time.
That same day, the Kolkata Knight Riders will go head to head against the Delhi Daredevils with on-pitch action taking place from 6.30pm UAE time.
On April 23 at 6.30pm UAE time, Rajasthan Royals will take on Chennai Super Kings, while April 25th will see Sunrisers Hyderabad face Delhi Daredevils at 2.30pm UAE time, and Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will battle from 6.30pm UAE time.
Rounding out the Dubai-based matches will be Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab game at 6.30pm UAE time on April 28, followed by Mumbai Indians match on Sunrisers Hyderabad at 6.30pm UAE time on April 30.
Following a recent inspection of the facilities in the UAE, MV Sridhar, General Manager of Cricket Operations, BCCI, said: “We are very happy with the facilities at the venues that will be hosting the UAE leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014. The infrastructure is on par with any of the leading international venues.
“Considering the amount of cricket that has been played at these venues, the ground and pitch maintenance is noteworthy. We are confident that the facilities and ground conditions will provide the platform for an exciting first leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014,” continued Sridhar.
International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson, who is based in the UAE at the ICC headquarters in Dubai Sports City, welcomed the decision for the first leg of IPL to be played in the UAE: “The BCCI’s decision to stage the first part of the IPL 2014 season in the UAE is great news for the people of the UAE. It will do wonders for cricket in the region, in particular in Dubai where the ICC is located.
“Dubai’s hosting of the IPL will complete a remarkable season of cricket in the UAE, which has already seen the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014,” added Richardson.
Aside from Dubai, matches will also be played in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.