DUBAI // Cricket enthusiasts dive and leap to catch balls being pounded by batsmen as they take part in a popular, fiercely competitive Ramadan League played inside a Dubai warehouse.
Almost 80 teams from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ajman are vying for a trophy and medals to be awarded next month to the winners of the league at the Insportz Club off the Sheikh Zayed Road.
Most Muslim team members come in after breaking their fast for matches that start at 9.30pm and 11pm. Some Muslim cricket fans head there after work, spread out prayer mats on one side of the 3,065 square metre warehouse and complete iftar with friends.
"The Ramadan League is the biggest of our five tournaments and most teams are Muslim dominated," said Myron Rodrigues, the Insportz manager.
"When we started the league eight years ago it wasn't so popular, but it's grown. With so many people awake until late at night, it gives them something to focus on. It keeps everyone busy."
The 78 squads have mixed nationalities, with players from India, Pakistan, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The teams, who pay Dh1,200 to participate, have quirky names such as Nothing but Nets, Desert Devils, Al Bahar Caterpillars, Key 2 Win and Asian Tigers.
They are all striving to unseat Saquib Nazir, the Indian captain of the top-seeded Danube Lions, who is focused on keeping up the side's winning tradition.
His team, made up of bankers, businessmen and advertising professionals, have been league champions for the past eight years. There are nine Muslims in his 12-member squad.
"Practise, practise, practise helps us stay ahead," he said. "After eating so much at iftar, it helps to play here. You feel drained after you play and that's a good feeling."
An export manager with the trading firm Gulf Impex, Mr Nazir tries to keep to light iftar meals on match days, including foods such as fruits, dates and kebabs. "We eat together as a team at the end of every match," he said, as his teammates ordered pizza after a practise session. "It's fun to talk about the game, our strengths, weaknesses."
His teammate Umar Shah, a 24-year-old Pakistani, said it was a challenge to play during Ramadan because the physical demands of the sport were exacerbated by the disciplines required of the faithful during the holy month. "It is a true test of your body," said Mr Shah, who works with the travel group Dnata. "We need to drink a lot of water, a minimum of two and a half litres. It's very important to keep hydrated. Playing in the league is [also] very good for digestion. Playing at night really helps."
Mohan Kumar the group finance manager of the marine engineering company Chalmers Engineering, said there was a different level of fervour during the competition.
"It's nice to watch seven or eight guys place their mats, break iftar here, then take a rest and play," the Indian expatriate said. "It's fantastic playing with guys who have fasted through the day and then see their level of enthusiasm."
Mr Kumar, 36, has created teams in the league whenever he has changed jobs. Chalmers are his third since 2002.
The opening night on Monday drew about 50 friends and relatives who sat on the benches in front of nets that separate the court from the audience. Regulars say the crowds build up when the tournament reaches the knockout stage, with the finals drawing more than 500 fans.
Sahib Wazir, 24, plays with the Goodwill Movers, the youngest team in Division B with an average age of 22. He said the physical activity of cricket was more exciting than heading to the gym. "It looks easy out there but believe me, it's not," he said. "You need stamina when batting. It's tough because you tend to run for every ball. That's 15 minutes of running."
The operational supervisor said he was careful about what he eats during iftar before matches because of the physical exertions required during matches.
"You can't stuff yourself," he said. "If you do, you can't run."
@Email:rtalwar@thenational.ae
Keep up with all the Ramadan news at www.thenational.ae/ramadan
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
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Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
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Investment raised: $4 million
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Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
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Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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- 600-seat auditorium
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START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
