England Stars To Light Up Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy
Cricket fans in the UAE will be treated to a feast of cricket this week as some of the biggest names in the sport arrive from England to compete in the Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy.
The form of Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan will be under close scrutiny as he bids to win his place back in the England team by steering Yorkshire to victory in the tournament featuring six top English County sides.
The 34-year-old’s Yorkshire team-mate Matthew Hoggard will also be desperate to impress selectors with a strong showing in the tournament which features Nat West Pro 40 winners Sussex, Friends Provident winners Essex, as well as Middlesex, Surrey and Lancashire.
The spotlight will also be on the new head coach of Lancashire Peter Moores following his departure from the England set-up in January.
Local interest in the eight-team event will focus on the UAE national side, aiming to tune up for their World Cup qualifying campaign in April, and Fly Emirates who get the tournament under way tomorrow at 2.30pm against Essex at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium.
Games will also be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, where the final of English Cricket’s premier pre-season tournament will be played on March 25.
The competition will also feature a number of other high-profile names from the world of cricket, such as Strictly Come Dancing winner Mark Ramprakash, while England greats Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe feature in the coaching ranks.
In its second year, the Pro ARCH Trophy welcomes Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, as its title sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to the development of the sport in the region.
Tournament director Matthew Jackson said: “The successful growth of this fledgling event has been due to the help we have received from our partners in the ICC, England and Wales Cricket board, The Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Council and the Abu Dhabi cricket council.
“However, world-class events cannot take place without world-class sponsors and we are lucky enough to have one in Emirates airline.”
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman Emirates Airline & Group, said: “We are looking forward to watching our very own Fly Emirates side get the tournament under way in the opening match tomorrow, while the involvement of the UAE national team is testament to the growing popularity of cricket here which we are proud to have played a part in.”
Entry to both stadiums is free of charge, while VIP tickets, priced AED75, can be purchased at the ground on the day, through the tournament website www.proarchtrophy.com, or by calling (+971) 4 436 8100 (+971) 2 6459790.
