Sourav Ganguly gives thumbs up to Sharjah Cricket Stadium, says venue ready for IPL games

SHARJAH (UAE): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to have a successful 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on runners-up Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Sunday visited Sharjah Cricket Stadium and lauded the iconic stadium for its new look and feel.The former Indian captain declared that the stadium was IPL ready and remarked that the IPL’s young players were eagerly looking forward to playing on this hallowed cricket ground where greats like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar wrote history.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium will be hosting some classic IPL rivalries this season such as Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Kolkata Knight Riders on October 12 (Monday) and Chennai Super Kings versus Mumbai Indians on October 23 (Friday).
The iconic venue recently announced major refurbishments including new canopies, an upgraded Royal Suite, commentary box and VIP hospitality boxes including actions and facilities for total compliance with Covid-related protocols.
Ganguly was accompanied on his tour of the facilities by IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, former IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and Hemang Amin, COO, IPL. Other officials who were present included BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, BCCI joint secretary Jayesh George and Mubashir Usmani, GM of Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). They were hosted by Waleed Bukhatir, vice-chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Khalaf Bukhatir, managing director of Bukhatir Group and CEO of Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The visitors also shared many happy nostalgic memories of events they had attended at the stadium.