Emirates Cricket Board bats hard for baseball future

KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

With baseball falling under the administrative umbrella of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), a dedicated three-member committee has quietly been working to establish the foundations for the sport's long-term growth in the UAE. 

The ECB's Baseball Governing Committee, led by Dr. Tayyab Kamali alongside Zayed Abbas and Mubashshir Usmani, has been tasked with exploring avenues for development, partnerships, and grassroots engagement. 

While the ECB took charge of baseball operations in 2023 following a government directive, efforts to structure the sport domestically have steadily taken shape since then. 

Speaking about the committee's mandate, Dr. Kamali reiterated the ECB's broader commitment to nurturing talent and providing infrastructure. "The Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to the growth of baseball and will continue to create opportunities for the sport's promotion by nurturing talent, setting up baseball academies, and by staging world-class events across the country," he said. 

Plans are in motion to establish The Sevens Stadium in Dubai as the central training hub for a prospective national baseball team, a project that was announced last year. According to officials, identifying and preparing a representative UAE squad is a key goal, although no timeline for formal competition debut has been confirmed yet. 

The UAE's globalised demographic offers a natural audience for the sport. With over 11 million residents – 90% of whom are expatriates – the country boasts one of the most diverse populations in the world, with more than 200 nationalities represented. 

Recent data from global research firm YouGov estimates that approximately 800,000 baseball fans already reside in the UAE, offering an encouraging base of support. Efforts are being made to build international alliances. 

"The committee has explored partnership opportunities with various baseball entities from around the world – a series of exciting announcements will be made in due course," Dr. Kamali added. 

While baseball still has a long road to travel before it joins mainstream sporting consciousness in the UAE, the presence of an active oversight body and a growing pool of supporters reflects a steady institutional push to turn ambition into achievement.