The FairBreak Invitational tournament will start on Wednesday evening, when sides bearing the names of Warriors and Falcons meet at Dubai International Stadium.
The event is the latest T20 franchise cricket tournament to launch in the city – although it’s stay here is likely to be only temporary.
What is it?
The six-team event, played in the 20-over format, is the initiative of FairBreak Global, a company founded by Shaun Martyn, who is the former manager of Australia player-turned-commentator Lisa Sthalekar.
According to FairBreak: “Our mission is to create opportunities in sport, business, media, arts and education to achieve gender equality on a truly global scale.”
The tournament will feature some of the best known players from the women’s game, but also a number of less recognisable ones, too.
Who is playing?
The tournament is unquestionably the most diverse cricket tournament ever played.
The sport’s established elite are well represented, with Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone coming from England, Elyse Villani from Australia, Stafanie Taylor from West Indies, and Laura Wolvaardt from South Africa.
But players have been sent from the furthest reaches of the sport, too, with Botswana, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Germany and Bhutan all having representatives in it.
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England captain Heather Knight will lead Barmy Army in the FarBreak Invitational tournament in Dubai in May 2022. Photos: FairBreak Global unless stated -
UAE batter Kavisha Kumari receives her cap from her new Barmy Army captain, Heather Knight. -
UAE batter Kavisha Kumari trains with her Barmy Army teammates. -
England's Sophie Ecclestone, second left, who is the world's No 1 ranked bowler, will play for Spirit in the FairBreak Invitational to be played in the UAE. -
UAE coach Najeeb Amar is part of the backroom staff for Barmy Army. -
West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin. -
Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin take a drinks break. -
Warriors players run during training at the Dubai International Stadium. AFP -
Yasmin Daswani of Warriors team catches the ball during training. AFP -
Warriors players during a warmup routine. AFP -
Warriors' Yasmin Daswani, centre, catches the ball. AFP -
Warriors players exercise during training in Dubai. -
Warriors' Sarah Bryce catches the ball. AFP -
A Warriors player throws the ball during training. AFP
Are UAE players involved?
There are four locally based players selected for the FairBreak tournament – each of whom has been a key part of the UAE’s ongoing 14-game winning streak in T20 international cricket.
National team captain Chaya Mughal will be playing for Spirit. Theertha Satish, the top-order batter, will feature for the Falcons.
Opener Esha Oza is with the Warriors, while Kavisha Kumari is set to play for the Barmy Army side.
Full match schedule
All timings UAE
- Wednesday, May 4: Falcons v Warriors, midnight
- Thursday, May 5: Tornadoes v Sapphires, 4pm; Barmy Army v Spirit, 8pm
- Friday, May 6: Barmy Army v Falcons, 4pm; Tornadoes v Warriors, 8pm
- Saturday, May 7: Falcons v Spirit, 4pm; Warriors v Sapphires, 8pm
- Sunday, May 8: Spirit v Sapphires, 4pm; Tornadoes v Barmy Army, 8pm
- Tuesday, May 10: Warriors v Spirit, 4pm; Barmy Army v Sapphires, 8pm
- Wednesday, May 11: Sapphires v Falcons, 4pm; Tornadoes v Spirit, 8pm
- Thursday, May 12: Falcons v Tornadoes, 4pm; Barmy Army v Warriors, 8pm
- Saturday, May 14: Semi-final 1, 4pm; semi-final 2, 8pm
- Sunday, May 15: third place play-off, 4pm; final, 8pm
How can I watch?
All the games are played at Dubai International Stadium, and admission is free.
The tournament will be aired on the Etisalat elife channel in the UAE.
Why is it being played in UAE?
The tournament is independently organised, but run in collaboration with Hong Kong Cricket.
Initially, it was planned to be staged in Hong Kong. However, the 21-day quarantine period there during the height of the Covid pandemic led the organisers to look elsewhere for a venue.
As a result, the tournament will become the latest T20 event to be played at Dubai International Stadium, which already hosted the IPL and T20 World Cup earlier this season.
