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Desert home: On UAE as India’s cricket venue

India seems to have warmed up to the UAE as a cricketing venue after earlier misgivings

The ICC Twenty20 World Cup’s shift from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was inevitable
following recurrent waves of COVID-19 infections and the logistical difficulties of hosting an event
featuring multiple squads. Over the last few weeks, the news first started as a source-based
whisper before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s top brass — President Sourav
Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah — spoke individually, clearly stating that India would host the
championship in the UAE. Finally, the International Cricket Council issued a statement declaring that
the tournament will be held from October 17 to November 14 with Oman stepping in as a co-host
for the qualifiers. Once the BCCI scheduled the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in West
Asia ahead of the T20 World Cup, it was no surprise that the premier championship too would
follow suit. With its three grounds at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah being in close proximity, the
UAE cuts out the need for air travel, and teams can adhere to bio-bubbles in their respective hotels,
an essential requirement in these fraught times of a constantly mutating virus. India hosted England
earlier this year and the IPL too commenced this summer, but the pandemic’s surge meant that the
league had to be suspended while a second wind was sought in the desert sands prior to the T20
World Cup.

That for a year India paused its domestic cricket makes it all the more difficult for it to suddenly
lend its weight to international fixtures at home. Now that the ambivalence has been shed, it is
interesting to note the emergence of the UAE as a popular neutral venue. Fans of a certain vintage
would recall past jousts at Sharjah lit up by the legendary exploits of stars ranging from Javed
Miandad to Sachin Tendulkar. And then India stayed away for a while as talk about bookies and off-
field corrupt influences surfaced. Meanwhile, terrorism-scarred Pakistan kept the UAE as its home
venue as nervous rivals refused to land either at Karachi or Lahore. Since then, India has warmed up
to the UAE as a cricketing outpost while Pakistan has found a few visitors willing to play on its turf.
As a second host for the IPL, the UAE has always stepped forward and India had an instant solution
for its T20 World Cup hosting crisis. After winning the inaugural ICC World T20 in South Africa back
in 2007, India has suffered a title drought and there is a case for course correction. But before that,
its dual units have to tackle six limited-overs contests in Sri Lanka and five Tests in England.

[Word:464 ]

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Vocabulary
9. top brass (noun) – very important
1. warm (up) to (phrasal verb) – like, person/people. बिुत िित्वपर्
ू य व्यश्तत
become enthusiastic about, become
supportive of, become excited about.
10. step in (phrasal verb) – intervene,
उत्साहित िोना, सिायक बनना become involved, get involved.
िस्तक्षेप किना
2. misgivings (noun) – doubt, suspicion,
distrust, apprehension. संदेि 11. it is no surprise that (phrase) – as
expected, as anticipated, as predicted.
3. inevitable (adjective) – unavoidable, जैसा कक अपेक्षक्षत था
unpreventable, inescapable, certain,
sure to happen. अपरििायय, ननश्चित 12. follow suit (phrase) – emulate, copy,
follow, take (another’s actions as an
4. recurrent (adjective) – repeated, example). अनुकिर् किें , कॉपी किें
regular, cyclical, continual, periodic.
बाि-बाि, ननयमित 13. proximity (noun) – nearness,
presence, closeness (in a distance).
5. logistical (adjective) – relating to ननकटता
organization and planning of
something.
14. cut out (phrasal verb) – remove,
exclude, eliminate. िटाना, बहिष्कृत
6. squad (noun) – team. दल
किना
7. source-based (adjective) – relating to
the point/place from which something 15. adhere to (verb) – abide by, follow,

is originating. स्रोत-आधारित obey, comply with. पालन किना

8. whisper (noun) – rumour, gossip, 16. bio-secure bubble (noun) – it is

defined as an environment/location
report, speculation. अफवाि
sealed off from the outside world. In
tennis/cricket, this would mean

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players, umpires, and support staff 24. fixture (noun) – match, game,
being housed at the venue itself. competition. िैि, खेल, प्रनतयोधगता

17. fraught (adjective) – worried,

troubled, stressful, distressed,
25. at home (phrase) – in one’s own
agitated, distracted, distraught (and
country. अपने दे श िें
with many problems). पिे शान,
तनावपर्
ू य 26. ambivalence (noun) – a state of having
mixed feelings about someone or
18. constantly (adverb) – always, something; equivocation, uncertainty,
continuously, regularly. ननत्य unsureness, doubt, indecision,
irresolution, irresoluteness, hesitation.
19. mutating (adjective) – evolving, संदेि, अननर्यय
changing, transforming,
undergo (genetic change). ववकमसत 27. shed (verb) – discard, get rid of, do
away with, dispose of. त्यागना
िोना, बदलना

28. vintage (noun) – year; period, time,

20. surge (noun) – a sudden rise or
era, epoch. वर्य; काल
increase. अिानक वद्
ृ धध

29. recall (Verb) – remember, recollect,

21. sought (past tense of) seek (verb) – try
call to mind, think of, reminisce about.
to obtain, attempt to find something.
याद किना
िांगा, प्राप्त किने का प्रयास

30. joust (noun) – tournament, contest,

22. pause (verb) – stop, cease, halt. रुकना
combat. प्रनतयोधगता

23. lend weight to (phrase) – to make

31. light up (phrasal verb) – brighten,
something seem more
credible/probable; vouch for, certify, shine. प्रकाश किना
support, validate. कुछ अधधक
32. legendary (adjective) – famous,
ववचवसनीय
celebrated, outstanding, popular,
renowned. प्रमसद्ध

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33. exploit (noun) – achievement, 40. rival (noun) – competitor. प्रनतद्वंद्वी

accomplishment, attainment, triumph.
उपलश्धध, मसद्धध 41. outpost (noun) – remote branch,
remote part/territory. दिू स्थ शाखा
34. stay away (phrasal verb) – avoid,
avert, shun, skip. दिू ििना 42. turf (noun) – track, pitch; (cricket)
playground. खेल का िैदान
35. bookie (noun) – bookmaker, a person
takes illegal bets, particularly
43. step forward (phrasal verb) – give
on sporting events. सट्टे बाज support, provide help, offer assistance.
सिायता प्रदान किना
36. off-field (adjective) – happening away
from the (cricket) ground/pitch.
44. inaugural (adjective) – first, initial,
िैदान/वपि से दिू िो ििा िै
introductory. उदघाटन, प्रािं मभक

37. influence (noun) – effect, impact.

45. drought (noun) – dry spell, dry
प्रभाव period; lack, unavailability, deficiency
of something. सख
ू ा
38. surface (verb) – emerge, appear, come
to light. सति, उभिना 46. course correction (noun) – modifying,
improving, rectifying (the plan of
39. terrorism-scarred (adjective) – action). संशोधधत किना
damaged or spoiled by terrorism.
आतंकवाद से क्षनतग्रस्त

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