IPL 2020: Sharjah Cricket Stadium makes Ganguly nostalgic

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Sourav Ganguly at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. (Supplied photo)

Sharjah - The former India captain remarked that the IPL's young players are eagerly looking forward to playing on this hallowed cricket ground where Gavaskar and Tendulkar wrote history

By KT Report

Published: Mon 14 Sep 2020, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 15 Sep 2020, 4:17 PM

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly visited the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, lauding the iconic stadium for its new look and feel and declaring it IPL-ready.
The former India captain also remarked that the IPL's young players are eagerly looking forward to playing on this hallowed cricket ground where greats like Sunny Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar wrote history.
The historic venue recently announced major refurbishments including new canopies, an upgraded Royal Suite, Commentary box and VIP Hospitality boxes.
Ganguly was accompanied on his tour of the facilities by IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel, former IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla, and Hemang Amin, COO, IPL.

Warm Welcome to the Home of Cricket in UAE Sourav Ganguly, BCCI President. IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel, Ex IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla hosted by Waleed Bukhatir, Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Khalaf Bukhatir, MD of Bukhatir Group and CEO of Sharjah Cricket Stadium. pic.twitter.com/xV3y6kG3ji
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium (@sharjahstadium) September 14, 2020

Other officials who were present included BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal, BCCI Joint Secretary Jayesh George and Mubashir Usmani, General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
They were hosted by Waleed Bukhatir, Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Khalaf Bukhatir, Managing Director of Bukhatir Group and CEO of Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The visitors shared many great memories from events at Sharjah Stadium.
The stadium will be hosting some classic IPL rivalries this season such as Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Kolkata Knight Riders on October 12 and Chennai Super Kings versus Mumbai Indians on October 23.
Waleed Bukhatir, the vice-chairman of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, was delighted to have got the chance to host the IPL again, having staged 14 matches in the 2014 edition of the world's richest T20 league.

View this post on Instagram
Famous Sharjah stadium all set to host IPL 2020
A post shared by SOURAV GANGULY (@souravganguly) on Sep 14, 2020 at 9:57am PDT

"Hosting one of the world-class sporting events like Indian Premier League (IPL) in our historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium is a great privilege for us and we cannot wait to be on board with the most exciting franchise teams in the world," Bukhatir had said last month.
"For Sharjah Cricket Stadium we have always been ready for such events as we have state of the art facilities and we are all glad to welcome this exhilarating tournament to Sharjah."
Bukhatir said all the strict health protocols would be put in place.
"As per the directives and guidance of UAE government, the safety of the public should come first for any event. We will follow the protocols laid out by the Government and officials," said Bukhatir.
sports@khaleejtimes.com