Industry News
Private school cricketers head for the Gulf
Posted on 26th February 2008
Pupils from four independent schools, Eastbourne College, St Bede's, Worth School and Wellington College, are set to travel to Abu Dhabi next month for a cricket tournament.
They will compete in the inaugural Arabian Challenge (Arch) cricket series during their Easter holidays, the Eastbourne Herald reported.
Professional teams, including Lancashire, Somerset, Yorkshire and the UAE national team, will also be playing in the Gulf state, as part of the Pro Arch event.
Former England cricketer James Kirtley came up with the idea for the youth series, saying that it is a "fantastic opportunity for all the schools taking part".
He cited the near-perfect playing conditions and access to professional cricketers as the main draws of the event for the young competitors.
Mr Kirtley added: "All the school squads will get a taste of what it is like to play and train using world class facilities."
Eight of the professional matches will be taking place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which can accommodate 16,000 spectators.