ICC plans Global Cricket Academy in Dubai

The International Cricket Counci(ICC)l has charted out a ambitious project, the Global Cricket Academy in Dubai which will begin operations in early 2008.

The Academy, part of the Dubai Sports City development, will cater to every cricketing need and will specialise in training not only the cricketers but umpires, curators and administrators, Malcolm Speed, CEO of ICC said at a press conference today.

Giving details of the project, Speed said the facilities will include two international standard grounds, 48 outdoor net pitches, six indoor pitches and state-of-the-art video analyses and medical facilities.

Speed said the Academy would import soil from England, Asia and Australia as part of its mission to offer attendees the chance to experience as wide a range of conditions as possible.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh, who is the director of coaching at the academy, said the idea was to make the Academy an ideal location for top teams as they prepare for tours.