Ind vs Aus: Cricket fever plagues Dubai offices

Thursday is turning out to be a ‘sick’ day for many in Dubai, with several reporting unwell and unable to attend office. It isn’t the flu in the air, though – many employees in Dubai are calling in sick today because of cricket fever running high as India takes on Australia in the second World Cup semi-final at Sydney Cricket Ground.

A HR manager of a multinational company told Emirates 24|7 that this was something expected.

“We’d given a verbal counsel that attendance is a must on Thursday but we saw it coming. Lame excuses on previous occasions included cold, flu and stomach ache,” he said on the condition of anonymity. “This time, though, many applied for leave in advance,” said the German national.

In a survey carried out in India, more than a third (34 per cent) of 6,000 office goers who participated said they would call in sick, while 2 per cent planned to go to the extent of saying their houses have been burgled…all in the name of cricket.

And, there’s not much difference when it comes to cricket-mad Indians here in the UAE, back home or anywhere else when it comes to cricket mania.

“I have taken leave from work to watch the semi-final and if India makes it to the finals I’ll definitely stay back too,” said Arvind Misra, a Bur Dubai resident.

Predicting a low attendance and half-hearted work from those who turn up, some companies in India have given their employees a day off.

For example, KPMG India has given a day off to its 9,500 employees in the name of cricket. MakeMyTrip in India too has given its employees an off day today in lieu of Saturday, when employees get back to work.

“We can’t expect companies to give off here so the best possible way is to take an off. Several of my friends in other companies are also doing this,” added Misra.

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