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Abu Dhabi stadium will boost
UAE cricket image: Altaf
The construction of a modern international level cricket stadium in the near future in the
capital will boost the cricket activities in UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular,
according to Saleem Altaf, former Pakistani Test and one-day player.
Saleem Altaf, who was in Abu Dhabi on his way back to Germany, where he is posted as
the Area Manager of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), told reporters over the weekend
that he was very happy to hear that Abu Dhabi is going to have a cricket stadium.
"I have been hearing it since the days I was in Abu Dhabi as the PIA manager for five and
a half years, and I am delighted to know it is going to be a reality in 18 months time," said
Altaf. He left Abu Dhabi in 1994 after the completion of his tenure here.
He said when he visited Sharjah way back in 1976 to play an exhibition match as a
member of the PIA team against a local expatriates side, there were virtually no facilities.
"That was an important debut because we sowed the seeds and later Sharjah became the venue
of International Cricket events and probably got the fame as the biggest organisers of
one dayers," he said.
"ICC bas been organising tournaments in Dhaka and in Kenya and why not in the UAE
with the prospect of one more stadium in Dubai?" he questioned.
"But personally I prefer Test Matches to one-dayers as the former is played in a more relaxed
atmosphere," said Altaf who also had served as chairman of the Pakistan National Selection
Committee. He played Tests and one-dayers for his country from 1967 to 1979.
Altaf, 56, also pointed out that cricket is spreading all over the world and said even Germany
has a cricket board and matches are being held in that country.
Saturday, November 18, 2000.
source : Gulf Today.
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