The best English players will perform in a three-match "North v South" tournament in the capital next year, news that is yet another fillip for the legions of fans of the game here. The announcement helps further underscore our place as a global hub for cricket and also as a country where innovations can be tried and tested.
Cricket fans have already benefited from the Indian Premier League scheduling games in the UAE in 2014, attracting large crowds. For security reasons, Pakistan's national team has also used our cricket venues as its home base as, indeed, does the Pakistan Super League. Day-night first-class cricket matches were also trialled here, including the use of a pink ball.
The latest tournament will also feature this spirit of innovation because selection will be based in part on the results of a computer programme measuring each player’s performance. Can a computer really match a selector’s gut feeling? We’ll see next year if this is a breakthrough or just a false start.
