ICC Academy and GEMS Sports Academy agree new partnership

Sport360 staff 12:16 06/07/2015
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  • The indoor lanes at ICC Academy.

    Dubai’s ICC Academy and GEMS Sports Academy have agreed a partnership that will combine the two facilities in a bid to develop cricket in the UAE.

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    The ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City plans to be able to deliver a unique and comprehensive programme to budding cricketers in the country, tapping into GEMS’ pool of students in the process. 

    Their partnership sees the creation of the Professional Cricket Programme, which will be open to students across the UAE and will be led by ICC Academy coaches over a two-year period, beginning in September. 

    General Manager of Sport and Events Business at Dubai Sports City, Maqbul Dudhia described the new partnership as a “milestone in producing cricketing talent for the future” and hailed the passion of the sport right across the UAE. 

    “It’s an incredible sight to see the thousands of fans fill the International Cricket Stadium during a test match,” said Dudhia.

    “You can see in the eyes of many of the children and teenagers watching on that they would love to be on that crease playing the sport they love.

    “We now have a very structured and varied program with the help of GEMS Sports Academy where we can harness that love of the game and enable those passionate younger people to have a go themselves."

    The ICC Academy sees this program as vital to the development of youth in the UAE and is full of enthusiasm ahead of the programme’s start.

    “There is no doubting cricket is a huge part of life in the UAE,” said ICC Academy Manager, Will Kitchen.

    “What we want to do, and in partnership with the excellent program and procedures set up by GEMS Sports Academy is prepare the younger generation for a fully-fledged career in this wonderful game.

    “We at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City have the resources, the infrastructure and the experience whilst GEMS Sport Academy bring the passionate kids and structured learning patterns.”

    GEMS Sports Academy has already experienced a number of success stories with past students going onto soccer scholarships in the USA and rugby players progressing to the UAE U19 set-up and now for GEMS Sports Academy’s Director of Sport, James Tucker, cricket is the obvious next step.

    “Our aim with this two-year Professional Cricket Program is that we spread the reach of the sport, we’re aiming for much wider participation,” said Tucker.

    “There are not many opportunities in the world where you can be taught the inner workings of being a professional sportsman or woman whilst still studying but that is what we aim to do.

    “Being trained like a professional playing a sport you love is the recipe of success and we’re delighted to be able to team up with the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on this exciting partnership."

    Students from all across the UAE can enquire further about the GEMS Sports Academy and ICC Academy Professional Cricket Program by visiting, www.gemssportsacademy.com.

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