The games begin with the start of the holy month

Seventy-eight teams are battling it out for glory in the Ramadan League, which after eight years is drawing support from all over the Emirates.

A competitor runs for a quick single in the Ramadan Cricket League at the Insportz Club in Al Quoz yesterday.

DUBAI // Cricket enthusiasts dive and leap to catch balls being pounded by batsmen as they take part in a popular, fiercely competitive Ramadan League played inside a Dubai warehouse. Almost 80 teams from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ajman are vying for a trophy and medals to be awarded next month to the winners of the league at the Insportz Club off the Sheikh Zayed Road.

Most Muslim team members come in after breaking their fast for matches that start at 9.30pm and 11pm. Some Muslim cricket fans head there after work, spread out prayer mats on one side of the 3,065 square metre warehouse and complete iftar with friends. "The Ramadan League is the biggest of our five tournaments and most teams are Muslim dominated," said Myron Rodrigues, the Insportz manager. "When we started the league eight years ago it wasn't so popular, but it's grown. With so many people awake until late at night, it gives them something to focus on. It keeps everyone busy."

The 78 squads have mixed nationalities, with players from India, Pakistan, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The teams, who pay Dh1,200 to participate, have quirky names such as Nothing but Nets, Desert Devils, Al Bahar Caterpillars, Key 2 Win and Asian Tigers. They are all striving to unseat Saquib Nazir, the Indian captain of the top-seeded Danube Lions, who is focused on keeping up the side's winning tradition.

His team, made up of bankers, businessmen and advertising professionals, have been league champions for the past eight years. There are nine Muslims in his 12-member squad. "Practise, practise, practise helps us stay ahead," he said. "After eating so much at iftar, it helps to play here. You feel drained after you play and that's a good feeling." An export manager with the trading firm Gulf Impex, Mr Nazir tries to keep to light iftar meals on match days, including foods such as fruits, dates and kebabs. "We eat together as a team at the end of every match," he said, as his teammates ordered pizza after a practise session. "It's fun to talk about the game, our strengths, weaknesses."

His teammate Umar Shah, a 24-year-old Pakistani, said it was a challenge to play during Ramadan because the physical demands of the sport were exacerbated by the disciplines required of the faithful during the holy month. "It is a true test of your body," said Mr Shah, who works with the travel group Dnata. "We need to drink a lot of water, a minimum of two and a half litres. It's very important to keep hydrated. Playing in the league is [also] very good for digestion. Playing at night really helps."

Mohan Kumar the group finance manager of the marine engineering company Chalmers Engineering, said there was a different level of fervour during the competition. "It's nice to watch seven or eight guys place their mats, break iftar here, then take a rest and play," the Indian expatriate said. "It's fantastic playing with guys who have fasted through the day and then see their level of enthusiasm."

Mr Kumar, 36, has created teams in the league whenever he has changed jobs. Chalmers are his third since 2002. The opening night on Monday drew about 50 friends and relatives who sat on the benches in front of nets that separate the court from the audience. Regulars say the crowds build up when the tournament reaches the knockout stage, with the finals drawing more than 500 fans. Sahib Wazir, 24, plays with the Goodwill Movers, the youngest team in Division B with an average age of 22. He said the physical activity of cricket was more exciting than heading to the gym. "It looks easy out there but believe me, it's not," he said. "You need stamina when batting. It's tough because you tend to run for every ball. That's 15 minutes of running."

The operational supervisor said he was careful about what he eats during iftar before matches because of the physical exertions required during matches. "You can't stuff yourself," he said. "If you do, you can't run." @Email:[e-mail] Keep up with all the Ramadan news at www.thenational.ae/ramadan