Abu Dhabi, Apr. 18, 2006 (WAM) -- Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, inaugurated here today the Zayed International Cricket Stadium. A large number of dignitaries, including Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, attended the inaugural ceremony.

A cricket match between two world cricket giants, India and Pakistan will grace the occasion for today and tomorrow with the winner taking home a memorial cup while the proceed from the match will go to the victims of the devastating earthquake which hit the Indian subcontinent in October last year, killing and maiming thousands of Indians and Pakistanis.

The Zayed International Cricket Stadium, which was built with the aim of broadening the base of cricket in the region and placing Abu Dhabi on the international cricket map, is fully furnished with the state-of-the-art equipment and has the capacity of 16,000 spectators.

The Abu Dhabi Cricket Council has established the Zayed Cricket Academy to prepare young players and broaden the base of the sport on the local and regional scenes.

In a key note address, Sheikh Nahyan praised President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his great care. He also praised Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his close follow-up .

He said preparation for the setting up of the cricket club began in 2000 during the time of the late UAE founder and leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "We therefore dedicate this sports edifice to his name in appreciation of his great support for sports," Sheikh Nahyan said, adding that the stadium which is another addition to other sports facilities in the country, is one of the world's state-of-the-art facilities for cricket, which is a very popular game in Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan.

Sheikh Nahyan expressed the hope that the new cricket facility would stimulate further sporting and tourism activities in the country, particularly in Abu Dhabi.

Also present at the inaugural ceremony were Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Environment and Water, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Saeed bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, and Chandra Mohan Bhandari, Indian Ambassador.

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