ABU DHABI // Good luck finding a taxi when cricket’s most glamorous tournament comes to town.
Cab drivers are the No 1 fans of the IPL, the Indian Premier League, and they are already making plans for when the tournament begins in Abu Dhabi on April 16.
Many will tune in to the radio while working, but some will head to the stadiums to watch their favourite teams and others will follow the action on big screens in labour camps.
“I did not miss any match of the last IPL. This time too I’ll watch it all – even if I have to park my taxi,” said Madan Bahadur, 38, a Nepalese expatriate.
“I love M S Dhoni, the Indian captain, as he comes from my birthplace, Ranchi, capital of the Indian state of Jharkhand, and watching him play is a great delight for me.”
There are millions of expatriates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal – countries where cricket has a huge following.
The tournament opens on April 16 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the capital, where the defending champions Mumbai Indians meet Kolkata Knight Riders.
“It’s a double delight. We will drop passengers there and watch and then find plenty of passengers after,” said Mr Bahadur.
Most of the matches start at 6.30pm so people can catch them after work, while on double-header weekends the first match will start at 2.30pm.
Mohammed Hussain, 35, from Pakistan, will let nothing get in the way of watching a game.
“We forget to have meals, but we never forget to watch a cricket match. Of course, I wouldn’t drive during games,” he said.
His country’s players do not play in the IPL, but Mr Hussain is sportsmanlike. “I love the game, no matter who plays.”
Many drivers are also happy that business will improve. Bangladeshi Sobuz Ahmed, 32, said: “I would support Kolkata Knight Riders as one of our favourite Bangladeshi players, Shakeeb Ul Hassan, plays with this team. So all of his matches I watch. Other games I’ll follow on the radio.”
The games will be shown on big screens at some workers' camps. The Aldar accommodation on Yas Island will be buzzing with activity as they have big screens for each nationality.
Indian Mohammed Basheer, 48, who drives a company car in Abu Dhabi, plans to watch all the games on these screens.
“I’ll watch all the matches as my duty finishes at 5pm and most of matches starts at 6.30pm,” said Mr Basheer, who supports Chennai Super Kings and lives in a camp on Yas.
“I watch them at camps with friends, which doubles the joy. The games should be free for labourers as they can’t afford to travel there and buy tickets.”
Kedar Khadka, 34, from Nepal, is looking forward to the games for two reasons – pulsating cricket and more business.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to watch matches here in the stadium as back home in Nepal I never miss cricket,” he said.
“At the same time, it would bring more business as passengers fly to the UAE to watch cricket. For me on both ends I am going to win.”
The IPL is an annual Twenty20 league of the world’s best cricketers assembled by wealthy team owners. This year eight teams will compete in the UAE, India and Bangladesh, with 20 games taking place here.
The last match in the UAE will be played between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad at 6.30pm on April 30 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
anwar@thenational.ae
