Friday, Nov 21, 2008

Gulf News

Dubai: While it still remains to be seen if international cricket comes back to the UAE early next year, there will be no dearth of quality action here though come March. Six top English Counties will be here again to take part in an eight-team limited overs tournament, to be held in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah over 10 days.

Yorkshire and Lancashire, who finished winners and runners-up in the event earlier this year, will be joined by Sussex, Essex, Surrey and Middlesex while the UAE national team and a Fly Emirates invitational team will make up the fray for the Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy.

The field will hence increase from six in the first edition, with the Shaikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Stadium playing the two venues again. Confirming the news, Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's cricket manager told Gulf News: "It was a rewarding experience last year and we hope it would offer good match practice for the forthcoming season."

While the Counties are unlikely to have the England team players because of national commitments during that period, all of them are poised to field best possible teams as the event has now grown in stature as a preparatory one for the English County season. "Yes, we will not have the likes of (Andrew) Flintoff, James Anderson or Sajid Mahmoud, but will be sending the best possible team there," said Watkinson.

Speaking on the club website, Lancashire captain Glen Chapple said: "This year's event gave the players the perfect opportunity to train and play in warm conditions against strong County opposition The facilities and weather were spot-on, and the improved format for next year should provide the ideal preparation ahead of the new season."

The tournament will see a new format in 2009, where there will two pools of four teams with each team playing three group matches (50-overs day-night fixtures). Thereafter, the top two finishers of either group will play off for the trophy, while those finishing down the table will take on respective teams from the other group to determine the final standings.

Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.