As the IPL opens in the UAE, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Emirates Cricket Board signed a MoU to strengthen cricketing ties between the two countries. "I along with Vice Chairman of Emirates Cricket Board Khalid Al Zarooni signed an MoU & hosting agreement between BCCI and Emirates Cricket to boost the cricketing ties between our countries," BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said in a tweet. The UAE is hosting the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which begins with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Dubai will host 24 games, 20 matches will be played in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Sharjah during the league stage. The dates and venues for the playoffs are yet to be announced. The IPL will be telecast from the UAE to 100 countries providing exposure worldwide to the state-of-the-art sports infrastructure in the emirates. In India alone 550 million viewers are expected.
Brian Sturgess
