Sri Lankan cricket fans light up Dubai Stadium

Sri Lankan cricket fans in the UAE have confounded observers by turning up in large numbers and vociferously cheering their team during the the day-night one-day international matches against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

With the Sri Lankan 'Papare' band in attendance, the flag-waving fans arguably outnumbered the 'home' fans from Pakistan in certain sections of the Dubai Sport City's cricket stadium which also hosts the third match of the one-day series on Friday.

The faithful Sri Lankan fans who flocked to the stadium on Monday night despite their poor show in the opening match on Friday, saw their team pulling off a 25-run victory to savour their first success in their UAE tour by successfully defending a competitive total of 235 for seven. 

Pakistan were always playing catch up after Lasith Malinga rocked them by grabbing two wickets in the first over.

Umar Akmal kept alive their hopes with a belligerent knock of 91 and dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi lit up the 'ring of fire' with a 14-ball 29 cameo before Sri Lanka put the skids on Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's batting coach Marvan Atapattu apologised to fans after Friday's debacle after they were shot out for the lowest one-day total in Dubai of 131.

Skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan, on the other hand was grateful to fans for their continuous support, despite their poor run in the UAE.

“It’s a fantastic feeling in the ground – they’ve supporting and cheering and we feel it’s like we’re playing a match in Sri Lanka”

With the one-day series now interestinly poised at 1-1, Dilshan urged fans to give the team the same backing on Friday.

“After we lost the first game (by eight wickets, last Friday), we still had the crowd come to support us,” he said. “I’m sure even more fans will come on Friday.

“It’s fantastic and I’m sure more crowds will come on Friday.”

One member of the Sri Lanka team management compared the noise and atmosphere at last Friday’s opening match to the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai in April, when Sri Lanka lost out to India at the Wankhede Stadium.

Dilshan’s challenge to the Sri Lanka community in the United Arab Emirates to come and support his side in numbers could well be a rallying cry to Pakistan’s fans to do the same for their team.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has made no secret of the fact that those fans have helped ensure his side also enjoys playing at the state-of-the-art venue on Emirates Road, and he is again looking forward to doing battle with Sri Lanka there on Friday.

“The atmosphere, the stadium – it’s really good to play here,” he said. “Normally you feel the heat playing in the UAE but in this stadium in particular, the way it’s built, it’s really good for the players and you don’t feel that heat.

“The atmosphere’s really good with the way the stands are built, everybody loves to play here and it’s a real plus point for our team,” Misbah added.

Tickets for the match on 18 November start from just AED50 and are available by ‘phone and online from Box Office ME, Time Out Dubai and the Ticketing Co., as well as numerous outlets in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, with details available at https://www.dubaisportscity.ae/articledisplay.asp?id=78

The match starts at 3pm local time. Provision has been made for Jumma Prayers at 1220, very close to the stadium, and there will be signs directing people to the area where they will take place.

The series then moves to Sharjah (November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23 and a Twenty20 International on November 25).

The three ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium are all part of 34 days of international action as DSC hosts its biggest season of cricket since the venue opened in 2009.

Already the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has staged the second Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan winning that encounter by nine wickets.

And after this ODI series, England arrives in January 2012 to face Pakistan in two Tests, two ODIs and two T20Is over a two-month period.

In March 2012 the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

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