Emirates Airline Festival of Cricket to be staged in Dubai

The Emirates Airline Festival of Cricket will begin on 9th November and run for three days with a celebrity Twenty/20 cricket tournament, a youth cricket clinic run by Australian Sports Camps, and a formal Cricket Gala Dinner.

The Test Cricket legends starring throughout the three days are: former Australian captain Kim Hughes; England's former captain, Mike Gatting; West Indies great Joel Garner; former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and India's Javagal Srinath

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: "Emirates is delighted to be part of this exciting event which further strengthens our close involvement with cricket, both at international level with sponsorship of the International Cricket Council's Elite Panel of Umpires and Referees, and at local level in the UAE through our partnership with the Dubai Cricket Council."

Ian Phillips, Australian Sports Camps Event Manager said: "We have secured five former Test Cricket players with enviable records to anchor the complete event. There is something for everyone - from corporate lunches and the celebrity match, to the youth coaching clinic and formal dinner - it's certainly going to be a spectacular few days in Dubai."

The Emirates Airline Festival of Cricket opens at the Darjeeling Cricket Club with the Twenty/20 Cricket Tournament, with four teams supplied by the event's Platinum and Gold sponsors and headed by the former Test stars.

Day Two will see the Emirates Cricket Clinic at the same venue for youngsters up to 17 years of age, with coaching by the celebrity players including batting, bowling, fielding, running between wickets, fitness, rule interpretation, and game analysis using state-of-the-art coaching software.

The Festival will end with a Cricket Gala Dinner on Friday 10th November at the Crowne Plaza Ballroom. The evening will feature guest appearances by the celebrity players, classic footage of memorable cricket moments, and an auction of cricket memorabilia.