Doha: A state-of-the-art cricket academy in Qatar - till now a dream - is expected to become a reality thanks in a large measure to the untiring efforts of Mana Ibrahim Al Mana.
“The academy should be operational by the start of the next year and will be based at the West End Park Stadium. The academy will be equipped with practice facilities, both indoors and outdoors. We will have indoor pitches for training and also facilities for net practices outside. We will also have a gymnasium, swimming pool and facilities for students to study,” said Al Mana, Chairman of the West End Park in Industrial Area, while talking to journalists.
The West End Park hosts a number of entertainment and sports facilities, including the cricket stadium.
Al Mana love affair with cricket came about a year back and since then the Qatari businessman is determined to promote the game and setting up the academy is one step in that direction.
“I knew nothing about cricket a year back. I became a cricket fan after watching a match in Dubai between Pakistan and South Africa, and since then I have the game on my mind,” the football fan of Spanish giants Barcelona and locally of Al Sadd Club said.
“My target is to improve the standard of the cricket in Qatar and we need an academy to help to raise the level. We need to go to schools to tap the talent,” said Al Mana.
“I have visited Lords in London and met Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) officials who have assured all help to me in setting up an academy in Qatar. International Cricket Council (ICC) besides Pakistan Cricket Board, officials from Bangladesh and other officials have assured to pitch in,” he added.
“Our academy will be a run on professional lines and we have some of the top coaches on our rooster,” said Al Mana.
On former England batsman and Delhi Daredevils captain Kevin Pietersen role in the academy Al Mana said: “Kevin came to know about my cricket vision through my Dubai fans, so he came to visit us.”
The star cricketer came to Doha on Wednesday and was taken on a guided tour of the West End Park Stadium.
“Kevin was impressed by what he saw in Qatar and he wrote back saying ‘I am excited and looking forward to work together with you’,” said Al Mana.
Besides the academy Al Mana has lined up a number of cricket tournaments at the West End Park Stadium to promote the game.
“We will plan to host one tournament every month. We will be hosting a Ramadan tournament and also a Doha League in September. The Ramdan event will feature 12 to 14 teams. The winners will get QR50, 000 and the runners-up QR25, 000.
“All the teams at the Ramadan tournament are local ones and will be allowed to field four international players. We are in the process of finalising the details,” he said.
He also disclosed that West End Park will also have its own cricket team.
“Our team will play their first match either in the Ramadan tournament or in the Doha League.” Al Mana said.
“We want to make cricket the second most popular sport in Qatar and aim one day to host the World Cup in Qatar,” he added.
The Peninsula
