Virender Sehwag backs UAE as IPL venue

Sehwag will be part of the Kings XI Punjab franchise that is set to participate in a quarter of all of the matches played across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in a frenetic fortnight between Wednesday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 30th.

Virender Sehwag during an autograph signing session

Virender Sehwag has warmly welcomed the decision to stage the first 20 fixtures of this Indian Premier League (IPL) season here in the United Arab Emirates.

Sehwag will be part of the Kings XI Punjab franchise that is set to participate in a quarter of all of the matches played across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in a frenetic fortnight between Wednesday, April 16^th and Wednesday, April 30^th. The former Delhi Daredevil is looking forward to the experience ahead, even if he has slight reservations about the weather as the sweltering summer months draw ever nearer.

“It’s good that we’re playing in the UAE and I’m happy with that,” the right-handed opener, 35, said.

“The only problem here is the weather because the IPL will start on April 16^th and the weather will get hotter and hotter. April is a good time to play here in the UAE.

“I’m looking forward to the IPL because I’m playing for the Kings XI Punjab this year. It’s a different team with different venues because we will be playing in the UAE for the first five matches. I’m looking forward to playing for two months for Kings XI Punjab.”

Cricket in the UAE is on the rise at present, with the national team having qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 this month and the ICC World Cup next year. Sehwag had some words of encouragement too for those donning the UAE kit in the international arena, adding: “It’s good that the UAE have qualified for those tournaments and, whenever we’ve played against the UAE, we’ve seen that there are a lot of Indian, Pakistani and Asian cricketers playing in that UAE team.

“It’s good that they’re playing in the UAE and qualifying for the World T20 and the 50-over World Cup. It’s good exposure for them and, if they can win some matches there and make their names in those competitions, it would be great.”