Desi girl: A feast of cricket on sultry Ramadan nights

As in Pakistan, night cricket has a big following in the UAE, and tournaments during Ramadan are a big draw.

Energy replenished after sumptuous iftars, and taraweeh prayers done with, Pakistani women put their feet up and enjoy their Ramadan TV soaps while the men put theirs in sneakers and head to the nearest cricket pitch. For this cricket-crazed lot, Ramadan and cricket go hand in hand, like Rooh Afza rose syrup and iftar. Night cricket is non-negotiable even in the sweltering July heat. And so, throughout the Holy Month, you’ll find enthusiasts of all ages perspiring profusely on makeshift pitches, playing well into the night, stopping only when it’s time for suhoor.

While the smaller neighbourhood games are played in the streets, the bigger tournaments take place in stadiums, attract hundreds of fans and are even televised for those who prefer to spend their nights indoors but don’t want to miss out on the action. Serious cash prizes are involved in some of the tournaments, which motivate some of the best players to fight that post-iftar sloth.

Of course, adjustments have to be made to accommodate these special playing conditions. Neighbourhood matches that cannot afford floodlighting opt for balls wrapped in white tape for visibility. With limited space to play in, some replace the standard cricket ball, which is hard, with a softer ball that will not bounce as far.

After the fast-induced lethargy of the day, playing cricket is an ideal way for the players to get some exercise and to while away the hours till suhoor time. Night cricket is more than a form of exercise or a pastime, though.

It’s a passion that runs so deep that, in addition to the hundreds of friendly neighbourhood matches being played all over the country on a daily basis and dozens of locally run tournaments, the Pakistan Cricket Board organised an official Twenty20 Ramadan Cup to seek out promising talent for the national cricket team.

You’ll find the same passion for night cricket outside of Pakistan as well, especially in countries with a large population of Pakistanis, such as the UAE, where a mix of local matches and bigger tournaments exists. The open grounds of Oud Metha and Ghusais in Dubai, and various areas of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, are the haunts of recreational cricketers, while a number of official tournaments book the grounds to keep employees busy.

Two of the more popular tournaments are the Dulsco annual Ramadan Cricket Tournament at the Dulsco Sports Club in Dubai, now in its 13th year, and Al Dhaid cup, which saw its sixth edition this year.

The new kid on the block is the Al Fara’a Ramadan Twenty20 night cricket tournament, which made its debut this year at Al Ain Sportsplex under the auspices of the Al Ain Cricket Council. Sixteen teams participated, and the winners went home with cash prizes, trophies, medals and Man of the Match awards.

The most established of the Ramadan Night Cricket tournaments is the Sharjah Ramadan Cup, hosted by the Sharjah Cricket Council, which is now in its 26th year.

While most of the tournaments have either concluded or are well under way, it’s not too late to catch part of the Ramadan night cricket action. Head to the ICC Academy Ramadan Indoor Cricket Tournament at Dubai Sports City – the final game is on July 30. Since it’s indoors, you won’t have to sweat it out in the heat, and you can choose to watch the match pitch-side, or from the viewing ­galleries above.

The writer is an honest-to-goodness desi living in Dubai