Kings XI Punjab stars hit for six by new cricket pitch at 7he Sevens

1st March 2010: There were sixes at 7he Sevens today as Kings XI Punjab stars Yuvraj Singh, Brett Lee, Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Abdulla tested out the sporting venue’s first new cricket pitch. Australian fast bowler Lee had the honour of delivering the first ball which India’s Singh smashed towards the pavilion which is destined to become a focal point of the UAE cricket community. Once complete, six pitches will be available for use at Emirates dedicated sporting facility, which is expected to be a hub for the thousands of cricket lovers in Dubai who have not had a major meeting point since seven pitches in Al Jadaf made way for construction projects in 2006. He was speaking after a press conference at 7he Sevens where Gary Chapman - President Emirates Group Services and Dnata announced that the first pitch will officially open this month. Gary Chapman said: “It is a great pleasure to have Yuvraj, Brett, Irfan and Yusuf, as well as Kings XI Punjab CEO Anil Srivatsa, here to help us celebrate the latest stage in the development of 7he Sevens. “In less than two years the venue has grown to cater for a diverse range of sporting interests, from rugby to football, basketball, gaelic football, hurling, netball, tennis and Australian Rules Football, becoming a key part of the sporting community in the process. The construction of the six pitches two with full grass outfields and four with an all-weather sabka surface is being coordinated by the Dubai Cricket Council, which has enlisted the services of a leading curator. Rathey Shyam, a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been overseeing the project, giving his stamp of approval on the wickets grown on special clay imported from Pakistan. Pitch one is floodlit and will be tested to the full later this month by Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani all-rounder who will be competing for Fly Emirates XI in the Emirates Airline Twenty20, which also includes the Cape Cobras, from South Africa, and English County sides Sussex and Surrey. The players including England stars Monty Panesar, Ed Joyce and Mark Ramprakash will be able to warm up in practice nets at the facility, while the pavilion with four dressing rooms will be able to host all the teams. The tournament will give cricket fans the chance to enjoy the new complex, which will include a shaded viewing area overlooking both grass pitches, while they will also have the option of sitting on banks which will surround each of the six pitches once finished. The pavilion will have a snack bar, while a full menu will be served at the Players Club, which is only a few minutes walk away, and with 12 dressing rooms - will also be available for use by cricketers during the season.