The new year is already three weeks old, but Duplays have wasted little time in organising their two brand new cricket leagues.
Their Battle of the Banks and Pitch Invaders editions get underway from January 30 at United Pro Sports in Dubai and there’s still time to sign up with registration still open.
As the UAE’s biggest sport and social club with over 5,000 members, Duplays certainly knows a thing or two about organising leagues and tournaments. Their portfolio includes basketball, football and badminton, and it’s no surprise that cricket is hugely popular.
“Among the sports that we organise – cricket, basketball and football are by far the most popular,” said Mohammed Nauman, director of Duplays. “Particularly cricket is very big for us because there’s a big South Asian community in the UAE who are very passionate about the sport.”
The Battle of the Banks is open to teams from financial backgrounds, while Pitch Invaders is perfect for those who want to enjoy some social indoor cricket.
“What we traditionally had done previously was organise the Battle of the Banks for football alone, but what we’re doing now is approaching the same banks and financial background teams to enter the cricket tournament because we know there’s a demand for that,” said Nauman.
“The Pitch Invaders is open to the general public. We are not targeting any specific company or industry. Anyone who wants to play cricket is welcome to join. With it being indoor cricket, it’s very inclusive and you don’t have to be a very good cricketer at all. It suits people of all abilities and it’s very fun to play,” he added.
Eyes on the prize: Pitch Invaders is open to the public and all cricketers.
Both competitions, which follows the league and knockout format, run for eight weeks with matches played between 19:00 and 20:00. While each team must have a minimum of seven players, there is no maximum numbers in a squad.
With a few days remaining until the battles begin, Nauman insists there’s plenty of positives by signing up as a team or individual.
“We want people to be involved in sports and be active,” he said. “Cricket is a fantastic sport to play whether you play it regularly or not. As it’s played at United Pro Sports, it’s a fantastic facility in Dubai. We host all our leagues there and every time it’s been a success.”
“For us, it’s the home of indoor cricket.”
What: Duplays’ Battle of Banks and Pitch Invaders
Where: United Pro Sports, Al Quoz, Dubai
When: From January 30
Contact: For more information, visit duplaysdubai.playpass.com