UAE Launches Its First National Baseball Team
In a groundbreaking development for the sport, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially announced the formation of its first-ever national baseball team. This exciting initiative was revealed on the evening of Monday, October 8, by the Emirates Cricket Board in collaboration with Baseball United. The newly established team is set to compete in various international tournaments, marking a historic milestone for baseball in the region.
The national team’s debut will occur at the upcoming Arab Classic tournament, scheduled to take place in November at the iconic Sevens Stadium in Dubai. This tournament will feature a competitive lineup, with teams from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Nepal vying for supremacy in the sport.
The selection process for the UAE national team will adhere to the eligibility criteria established by the World Baseball Classic, renowned as the World Cup of baseball. This framework allows for a diverse pool of players to be eligible for selection, including local residents who wish to represent the UAE.
Eligibility extends beyond mere citizenship; permanent legal residents of the UAE can participate in the tournament. Moreover, players are also eligible if they have at least one parent who is a UAE citizen or if they were born in the UAE, thus opening the doors for expat baseball enthusiasts to showcase their talent on an international stage. This approach contrasts with sports like football, where eligibility is strictly linked to citizenship.
Baseball United, the organization spearheading the development of baseball in the UAE, presented a comprehensive growth strategy to the Emirates Cricket Board, focusing on grassroots and community engagement. Although tickets for the Arab Classic are not yet available for purchase, interested fans can join a waiting list on the Baseball United website.
This tournament is just the beginning, as Dubai is set to host two more significant regional baseball events in the coming year. A new state-of-the-art 6,500-seat baseball park will also be constructed in Dubai, further enhancing the infrastructure for the sport.
In addition to the Arab Classic, there will be a Baseball United Cup featuring city-based teams from the Middle East and South Asia, slated to take place between February and March. Following that, the inaugural club season is expected to kick off next October.
Kash Shaikh, the chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United, emphasized the importance of nurturing national team programs as a means to grow the sport in the region. He stated, “While our professional league aims to set the gold standard for baseball across the Middle East and South Asia, we believe the most effective way to expand the game is through the development and enhancement of national team programs in this part of the world. We’ve supported several countries’ national teams over the past three years, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Now, we are excited to build a new program here in our UAE headquarters.”
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