Sharjah – 26th September 2024, A significant day in Sharjah’s history was witnessed on September 25, 2024, when the ICC Women’s World Cup trophy journeyed into this iconic stadium and sat prominently in the centre as part of the World Cup trophy tour. On October 3, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will kick off here, opening a new chapter for the stadium as Bangladesh takes on Scotland.
“We are proud to have served world cricket by hosting the Men’s, Under-19, and now the Women’s World Cups. Abdulrehman Bukhatir’s vision and foresight have allowed us to make these contributions to global cricket. I would like to thank our leaders for their unwavering support, as well as the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for giving us the opportunity to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Having successfully hosted major tournaments in the past, we are confident in delivering another top-class event,” remarked Waleed Bukhatir, Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cricket and Member of the Emirates Cricket Board.
The World Cup Trophy Tour event was attended by prominent personalities, including His Excellency Khalid Jasim Saif Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and His Excellency Eisa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council. Also present were Snehal Pradhan, ICC Women’s Cricket Manager, Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO of Sharjah Cricket, Mazhar Khan, General Manager of Sharjah Cricket and Nasir Akram, Member Sharjah Cricket.
Speaking about cricket in Sharjah, Eisa Hilal Al Hazami said, “Cricket is a sport with one of the highest viewerships globally, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium has hosted the most One Day Internationals (ODIs) in the world. It is no wonder that tourists visit Sharjah specifically to see this historic venue. Hosting the Women’s World Cup here will be another milestone. The event will be watched by people from across the globe. I appreciate Mr. Abdulrehman Bukhatir for establishing this stadium, which has brought great honor to Sharjah. The Sharjah Sports Council is proud to partner with Khalaf and Waleed Bukhatir in promoting sports, and we share a common goal.”
Khalid Jasim Saif Al Midfa, reflecting on the stadium’s legacy, said, “Sharjah Cricket Stadium holds the world record for hosting the highest number of international matches—299 in total. This achievement is remarkable. Many people recognize Sharjah because of cricket. The impact of this sport is immense. Sharjah is a hub for cricket, and we are excited to see women perform here. One of Sharjah’s greatest accomplishments is hosting 43 India-Pakistan matches, which is one of the toughest contests in the world to manage, but we did it.”
Mazhar Khan, General Manager of Sharjah Cricket, expressed his excitement for the upcoming tournament: “It is a great honor for us to host the ICC Women’s World Cup starting on October 3. For the past 45 years, Sharjah Cricket Stadium has been a focal point for cricket fans worldwide. This Women’s World Cup will be another proud chapter in the stadium’s history, and we expect many thrilling matches. Thanks to the vision of Mr. Abdulrehman Bukhatir, we have achieved so much. Recently, we hosted our 250th ODI match, and with 299 international matches, we hold the record for hosting the most international games.”
Snehal Pradhan, ICC Women’s Cricket Manager and former Indian women’s team player, said, “We look forward to an exciting and competitive tournament. While Australia has historically been the most successful team, many other nations have come close to winning world titles. South Africa and Australia were the finalists in the last Women’s T20 World Cup, and any team could surprise us here. Bangladesh is the host nation, and we are grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board for stepping in to ensure this event takes place. The ICC is privileged to have such dedicated partners capable of overcoming challenges to deliver a world-class event.”
Snehal also remarked that playing in Sharjah will be a special moment for many women cricketers: “Many of them may have only seen the historic matches held here on television; so playing at this venue, with its rich history and records, will be a memorable experience.”
