Fresh from his stint as a worker during the recently concluded first leg of IPL in UAE, a member gives the inside scoop on how the IPL was organized and expresses his hopes for a similar show by the PCB in the near future

By Azlan Khan (4th May, 2014)

Another Easter break and another opportunity to meet friends and family back home in the United Arab Emirates with working with the Indian Premier League (IPL) thrown in for fun! Such is life but when the chance to work in one of the most recognized leagues in the world beckons – who am I to refuse? And so it came to pass. The IPL was shifted to the UAE due to general elections in India. The organisers International Management Group (IMG) and India's government made a decision to move the first leg of the IPL to the UAE. As It turned out, this was a good decision. A sell out for the first 4 games within the first week after tickets went on sale was bit of a shock for many who doubted the enthusiasm of local crowds.
 

A view of Sharjah Cricket Stadium from the Pavilion end before the Indian Premier League kicked off.

As I experienced first-hand, it wasn't easy for the tournament organisers in Sharjah as they had a lot to do to lift up the standards of the historic stadium. Renovation started as soon as they had announced to stage the first leg of the IPL in the UAE. From dressing rooms to VIP lounges, everything was reconstructed in a matter of just 2 weeks which is commendable but also a testament to what can be accomplished given the right finances.

For those who have been to Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the past, the amount and quality of work which was put in was eye-opening to say the least. For the organisers, it wasn’t about the money alone. It was about the dedication they had put in for weeks to stage this tournament as it's not easy to stage a tournament of IPL’s stature in a different country at a short notice.

The renovated VIP Lounges with new furniture at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

There was a lot of expectation from this league and the organisers (and humble workers like myself) had to endure some sleepless nights but it all paid off in the end. The crowds showed up with a lot of enthusiasm and 19 out of 20 games went sold out. Who would have expected Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Dubai International Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium to be packed something like the IPL?

Not only the staff of IMG, but the people who were working at Sharjah Cricket Stadium did their best to deliver what was required. As one of the dedicated staff, I can say without any doubt that it wasn't easy for us. Having worked during Pakistan’s home series, I can assure you that it wasn’t just another tournament in the UAE. The standards were high and we had a deadline to deliver what was needed for this massive league and believe it or not, we did!

But, I have to be honest. As a die-hard fan of Pakistani cricket, there was a lump in my throat as the first ball of the tournament was played. What I would have given to see Ahmed Shehzad play that first ball or Mohammad Irfan bowl that first ball. In my defense, I did ask about the absence of Pakistani players and the answer (political one) I got from most of the IMG team was that this was due to "political reasons"! But to my relief, they did wish that Pakistani players were included in the next edition of IPL.

In my honest opinion, Pakistani players are missing out (due to no fault of their own) on a fantastic opportunity here. I have worked in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tournaments in the UAE but without any doubt there is nothing like the IPL experience! Even Pakistani fans came out in huge numbers to watch the games at Sharjah wearing, curiously enough, Pakistani team T-shirts which one would hope would have sent a message to the organisers. The PCB and BCCI really need to listen to the voice of the masses and sort out things as soon as possible and let Pakistani players play in the IPL.

What would really make sense now, given the interest in this type of cricket, is for the PCB to work on getting the PSL over to the UAE. The PCB must finalize their plans of holding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the UAE. If the IPL experience is any guide, we should see massive crowds watching the PSL. The audience would not only be Pakistanis but from what I experienced, will also include a sizable majority from other nationalities as well. To me, the key reason for IPL’s success in UAE, apart from its reputation, was the “slick” organisation and I'm pretty sure if PCB do a similar job, the PSL will be a major hit too.

It may sound strange coming from a Pakistani but I have to say that India are way ahead of us when it comes to organising such events. Whether it’s the presence of money or simply good management, Pakistan should get things going before it's too late. The PCB's Acting Chairman, Najam Sethi has stated that they have plans of organising the PSL in the UAE next January, but there seems to be little movement on the ground to substantiate that belief. Time is of the essence here and my question to the PCB is simply this - "If the IPL can be a success over here (UAE), why can't the PSL follow suit?" We all wait for the answer.

 

A view of the main building of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from the far end.

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