Sharjah Cricket Stadium to host international matches starting August 29
This tournament is an opportunity for these teams to prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup, which the UAE will host in September 2025. The event will include some of the best cricket teams from Asia, helping the participating teams gain valuable experience and improve their skills and fitness for the competition ahead.
The upcoming Asian Cup is expected to draw a huge crowd, both at the stadiums and through live broadcasts on sports channels, thanks to the popularity of football across Asia.
One of the most thrilling parts of the tournament is the traditional rivalry between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the UAE is looking to perform well and compete with some of the best teams in Asia, building on its recent improvements in the sport.
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Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Parents get refunds as Rohit Sharma's CricKingdom plans new cricket academy
Weeks after Khaleej Times highlighted the grievances of UAE parents following the sudden closure of a cricket academy in Dubai, positive developments have come to light. Around 30 parents who had paid in advance for their children's training at the now-shuttered Grasport academy have received the refunds from CricKingdom by Rohit Sharma, the brand behind the franchise, bringing some relief after weeks of uncertainty. Other parents, who had previously lost hope and were not part of the WhatsApp group created to claim refunds, are now approaching the company in hopes of recovering their money. Pratap Kumar, who initiated a parents' group for the refund process, said, "We thank the CEO of CricKingdom, Chetan Suryawanshi, who intervened to compensate parents with applicable refunds despite clarifying that this was a franchise partner failure of Grasport Sports Academy (GSA)." Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Another parent, Inderjit Singh, added, 'Only after the Khaleej Times report was published did CricKingdom step in and agree to refund the parents. Before that, they kept insisting they had nothing to do with Grasport. It was a long wait for us, as CricKingdom was in the process of setting up its company and bank accounts in the UAE.' In a statement, CricKingdom CEO Chetan Suryawanshi said, "We have taken concrete steps to address concerns raised by parents in the UAE following issues with a former franchise-operated centre. The leadership at CricKingdom has successfully processed refunds for families who had registered their children. Several parents have since come forward to express appreciation for how we handled the situation." Jigar Bhuptani expressed gratitude to Khaleej Times for playing a "major role" in helping parents get their refunds, thanks to its coverage. "At first, many parents believed that none of us would ever get our refunds," said Jigar. "However, we appreciate that CricKingdom eventually came through and honoured their commitment by refunding parents." Coaches remain unpaid Despite the positive developments, Jigar pointed out that the coaches who contributed significantly to the children's development remain unpaid. "It's important to highlight that while parents have now received their refunds, the coaches who gave their time and effort are still awaiting their salaries. We hope CricKingdom will address this issue without delay." At least four coaches, unpaid for months by Grasport, had reached out to CricKingdom management seeking intervention and payment of their dues. In an email seen by Khaleej Times, Sushil Sharma from CricKingdom assured coaches that payments would be settled after verifying dues with Grasport. Coach Chamani Seneviratne, a former Sri Lankan international, voiced her frustration: "We are still struggling because the previous franchise owner keeps making empty promises. Every month, there is a new payment date that never materialises; it's been six months. CricKingdom were the one that interviewed us, and we joined because of their brand and Rohit Sharma's name. We stood by them when they needed us; now we expect them to do the same and pay what is rightfully ours." Serbian coach Ayo Mene Ejegi and Sri Lankan coach Tiran Sandun Wijesuriya claim to be facing financial hardship and are urging a swift resolution. Addressing the coaches' pending salaries, amounting to over Dh51,500 for at least four individuals, Chetan Suryawanshi said, "CricKingdom is also actively working towards resolving unpaid salaries of coaches who were employed under the franchise model. "Although the responsibility for salary payments rested with the franchise partner (Grasport) as per the agreement, CricKingdom has chosen to intervene and engage directly with the coaches to evaluate their grievances. We believe coaches are the backbone of any cricket academy, playing a frontline role in nurturing young talent. CricKingdom remains committed to supporting their welfare and ensuring their voices are heard and valued." New academy by CricKingdom Meanwhile, CricKingdom has announced plans to launch its own flagship academy in the UAE, which will be fully operated and managed by its core leadership team. This marks a clear departure from its previous franchise model. "This move reflects our intent to provide a more consistent, controlled, and high-quality cricketing environment for aspiring young cricketers in the region," said Chetan. "To lead this initiative, Sushil Sharma from CricKingdom's leadership team will be relocating to the UAE to oversee the establishment and operations of the new academy." Pratap confirmed: "Chetan committed to continuing cricket development for kids in Dubai by starting the academy soon. He reiterated the Rohit Sharma brand's global commitment to cricket development." Ashish, another parent, expressed continued faith in the company's leadership. "While delays (in refunds) caused concern, I appreciated the transparency and professionalism shown by the Global Operations Head, Sushil Sharma. This experience has not deterred our belief in the academy's vision. I'll be happy to enrol my child again when they're ready." While Ashish appears confident in CricKingdom's new venture, several other parents said they would wait and observe how the new academy settles before enrolling. Coaching team One parent, who requested anonymity, said, 'We never had issues with the coaches, and we would consider re-enrolling if the same coaches and location are retained.' Of the six coaches previously associated with the old academy, CricKingdom has so far approached only two. Speaking to Khaleej Times, South African coach Francois Lombard said he had been offered a position at the new academy. "I have spoken to Sushil, and they've approached me multiple times. However, there are a couple of things that need to be sorted out before I consider their offer." The 24-year-old, now freelancing with another UAE academy, said he has fallen behind on bank payments due to financial strain following the Grasport fallout. Coach Sandeep Venkatraman is also expected to sign a contract in the coming weeks. The 32-year-old Indian told Khaleej Times, "CricKingdom is a big name. I am joining them because they run a global institute and understand how things work. Their other academies around the world are successful. I am satisfied after meeting the management and believe this new UAE academy will be a success." CricKingdom has indicated plans to start the academy by September, with registrations opening on August 15.
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
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England's Woakes 'gutted' he could not win single-handedly at Oval
All-rounder Chris Woakes is still processing the shock after England fell agonisingly short of a "fairytale" series victory despite his remarkable act of bravery in the fifth and final Test against India. India levelled the five-Test series 2-2 on Monday after prevailing in the cliffhanger at The Oval by six runs amid high drama in a fitting finale to an all-time classic series. Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder while fielding, himself provided some of the drama when he came out to bat with one arm in sling to try to get England across the line. "I'm still gutted, devastated really, that we couldn't get the fairytale," the 36-year-old told the Guardian newspaper. "But I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever. "It was nice to have the ovation and some of the Indian players came over to show their respect. But any other player would have done the same." Woakes looked in pain when running, but did not have to face a ball as Gus Atkinson was bowled by India's Mohammed Siraj at the other end. "It's not just you that you're playing for out there," Woakes said. "It's your team and your teammates, all the hard work and the sacrifices they put in, the people watching at home and in the ground. You just feel a duty to do it for everyone." He hurt his shoulder on the opening day of the see-saw test when he landed awkwardly trying to save a boundary, but said he has no regrets. "We chase down every run," Woakes said. "That has always been the way. As a bowler, you really respect guys trying to save every run. It means a lot to you. So you kind of do the same for the team. And a tight game like that one – just six runs the difference – kinda shows how they all add up."
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
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UAE Jiu-Jitsu national team arrive in China for World Games
The UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team arrived in China on Thursday to take part in the 2025 edition of the World Games, hosted in Chengdu from August 7 to 17. The national team previously participated in the 2017 World Games in Wrocław, Poland, winning two medals – one gold and one silver. They delivered a strong showing again at the 2022 edition in Birmingham, USA, securing five medals: two gold, one silver, and two bronze. World Games Chengdu 2025 will bring together nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports, making it one of the most prominent international sporting events. Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the team is aiming to achieve a new milestone that will further strengthen the UAE's position regionally and globally. He noted that the current squad features experienced male and female athletes who have consistently performed at the highest level. 'We are confident our athletes are fully prepared for the championship. They've put in a lot of work through both local and overseas training camps, which helped enhance their physical and mental readiness. They also completed intensive technical and fitness sessions to ensure they are in peak condition heading into the competition,' Al Menhali said. Former champion Faisal Al Ketbi, who is travelling with the team, added: 'Our team has a good chance of winning medals at the World Games, especially as they're currently among the top-ranked. We held a training camp in Brazil before the event, focusing on sharpening technique and improving overall fitness. The team is ready, morale is high, and after winning two gold medals last time, we're aiming for more this year.' The men's team includes Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69kg), Mehdi Al Awlaki (77kg), and Saeed Al Kubaisi (85kg). On the women's side, the team features Asma Alhosani (52kg), Shamsa Al Amri (57kg), and Shamma Al Kalbani (63kg). The UAE team will begin their campaign on August 10 when the jiu-jitsu competitions kick off.
