England duo prepare for forthcoming Test, ODI and Twenty20 series with Pakistan by warming up onboard traditional Emirati sailing dhow
England cricketers, Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann, camped in the UAE ahead of their country’s forthcoming Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series against Pakistan, will be hoping the wicket at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium – the venue of the second Test running 25th to 29th January – will have a little less bounce than the one they encountered earlier this week: the wooden deck of a traditional Emirati sailing dhow.
The English duo - who enjoyed a ceremonial plunge from the stern of Abu Dhabi’s Volvo Ocean Race entry, Azzam, as the yacht left Abu Dhabi’s host city stopover – took time to climb aboard the emirate’s centuries old maritime vessel and whack a couple of balls into the calm blue waters off the city’s pristine Corniche beachfront.
The casual ‘practise session’ comes as England ready to face Pakistan in a series of Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 matches throughout January and February, the first of which is a five-day Test in Dubai that starts tomorrow (Tuesday 17th January).
The second of three Tests will unfold at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th January – the same weekend as the emirate hosts its annual PGA European Tour event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
On February 13th and 15th, respectively, Abu Dhabi will host the opening two encounters in a four-match ODI series, before welcoming the teams back on February 27th for the last of three scheduled Twenty20 matches.
Entrance to the Abu Dhabi Test is completely free, with public admitted on a first come-first served basis. Tickets for the ODIs and Twenty20 matches, starting at just AED 30 on the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium’s East & West Mounds, are available online at www.boxofficeme.com or www.ticketingco.com, as well as direct from Abu Dhabi Cricket Club - www.adcricketclub.ae.
Other tickets for the ODI and Twenty20 matches include: South Premium Stand at AED 250, South Panoramic Stand at AED 150, South Grandstand at AED 100 and North Stand at AED 50.
