Qatar's cricket lovers get a royal gift

CRICKET fans in Qatar can look forward to a fully grassed ground complete with a pavilion and turf wickets – and it is coming courtesy of none other than HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
The ground, located in the Industrial Area, is being built under the supervision of the Special Projects Office which works directly under the Emiri Diwan and handles high profile ventures.
“It’s a gift from the Emir for the cricket lovers of Qatar,” a source involved in the project told the Gulf Times.
“HH the Emir was deeply concerned when several accidents took place in the Industrial Area because of people playing cricket on the road and this was the main reason he ordered a proper cricket ground,” the source said.
A huge plot of land has been earmarked in Salwa for the purpose. The Doha Golf Club (DGC) is helping with the landscaping and irrigation work and the Qatar Cricket Association is providing technical inputs for the project.
 “It’s the size of a proper cricket ground where proper matches can be held and the complex will also have a pavilion and a cafeteria among other things,” said Malik Nazar Mohamed, the Qatar Cricket Association’s (QCA) vice chairman and technical adviser.
“We at the QCA are involved in a consulting capacity,” Mohamed added. “We have provided inputs about the shape and dimensions of the ground and the pitches.”
The grass-laying and irrigation work is being handled by Hamid Rumane, who is projects manager with the DGC.
“The DGC is actively involved in the project,” Rumane, a qualified horticulturalist, told Gulf Times.
“We are in-charge of all irrigation and landscaping work at the ground. Soon we will have the electricity and water connection and after that we will start the turfing process,” Rumane added.
Pipes have been already laid under the ground for drainage purposes.
Cricket is being played in Qatar since the time Asian workers began arriving in the country almost half a century back, but even now matches are held on grounds which can’t boast a single blade of grass.
The QCA, an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), regularly fields teams in international age group tournaments, but players mostly practise on cement and matting wickets with the outfield littered with stones.
Some tournaments are even held in empty car parks.
“Players not used to proper turf wickets often perform poorly when they play in tournaments abroad and that is why we need to have proper pitches,” said Mohamed.
After the ground is complete, it could be handed over to the Qatar National Olympic Committee (QNOC) under which the QCA functions.
“We can host international tournaments once the ground is complete which will be probably by the end of this year,” said Mohamed.
“Cricket in Qatar will definitely get a boost when the ground becomes functional,” added the QCA official.