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28 March 2024

Tickets on sale for Emirates Airline T20 tournament in Dubai

Alastair Cook of England bats during the ICC Champions Trophy Group A match against Sri Lanka at The Oval on June 13, 2013 in London, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Staff

World Cup discards Alastair Cook of England and India's Yuvraj Singh will be the star attractions at the Emirates Airline T20 tournament in Dubai next month.

Cook makes his first competitive appearance since stepping down as England’s ODI captain
when he lines up alongside World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh in the tournament on March 20.

The duo are part of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) squad that will be vying for glory alongside Lancashire, Yorkshire and defending champions Sussex in the one-day T20 competition at Dubai's The Sevens stadium.

Since being launched in 2010, the annual tournament organised by Sport Arabia Worldwide has gone from strength to strength - given its highly competitive cricket action, mixed with family entertainment for all ages and a chance for fans to get up close to the stars.

Previous editions have seen India's Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag plus spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan take to the field in a highly anticipated event that is considered as an integral part of the counties’ preparations to the new season.

This year will be no different as some of the future stars of cricket as well as current and former internationals will be in action to dazzle the big crowds.

Cook and Yuvraj, are certainly the two big names this year. Cook is the leading England Test run-scorer, with over 8,000 runs, and will be looking to get as much batting practice as possible ahead of a busy 2015 which includes the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia in July.

Yuvraj, the player of the 2011 World Cup, needs no introduction to the T20 format.

In the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20, Yuvraj famously smashed six sixes off one over bowled by Stuart Broad en route to their title success. And to date, his T20 record stands at 968 runs from 40 matches, taking 23 wickets.

Their presence will boost an MCC side that will be captained by opening batsman Nick Compton and includes ex-England internationals Michael Carberry and Graham Onions.

Nepalese fans can look forward to seeing national captain all-rounder Paras Khadka, while the squad also features batsman Sam Billings and fast bowler Matt Dunn, who returned from England Lions duty in South Africa.

John Stephenson, MCC head of cricket, said: “This is certainly the strongest team we’ve ever selected for this fixture and it’s great to see a good number of MCC Universities alumni involved too.

"There’s an excellent blend of youth and experience, and I’m sure Nick Compton will lead the group expertly.

"Of course to have a batsman of Alastair Cook’s calibre involved shows the standing this fixture has in professional cricket and I’m delighted to have him at the top of the order."

Sussex awaits the MCC in the semi-finals and aggressive batsman Luke Wright looks set to be among the players to descend on Dubai.

England trio Tim Bresnan, Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett will also wear their Yorkshire colours in their semi-final against Lancashire.

The cricket matches are just part of the entertainment on the day. Children can look forward to a wide variety of cricket activities while a special play area will be installed.

General entry for adults start from Dh30, while under-12s will be admitted free. The entry ticket gives access to the grassy banks to soak up the atmosphere as well as the food village, bars and entertainment area.

For more information visit www.emiratest20.com.

Tickets are available to buy through Time Out - www.itp.net/tickets.