New Delhi

Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the UAE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum held a meeting with International cricket control Board chairman Jay Shah and some top Indian cricketers in Mumbai.

The Prince who is on a three-day visit to India is believed to have discussed the future of international cricket.

Besides jay Shah, the Crown Prince also met Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, T20 captain Hardik Pandya and star batsman Suryakumar Yadav. The purpose of this dialogue was to speed up the efforts to make the UAE a permanent center of global cricket.

Sheikh Hamdan said that Dubai has been hosting the ICC headquarters since 2005 and many important international tournaments including the recently held ICC Champions Trophy 2025, is held there.

 He congratulated the players on India's spectacular victory in this tournament.

In the final match, which was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Indian team performed brilliantly and won the title.

During the meeting, the Indian players also praised the world-class cricket facilities and organizing capacity of the UAE. They said that playing in the UAE has always been a great experience for them - be it the quality of the pitch or the enthusiasm of the spectators.

Sheikh Hamdan said, "The UAE's developed infrastructure, culture of innovation and global outlook make it a natural centre for international sporting excellence. We look forward to fostering long-term partnerships with friendly countries like India to further strengthen cricket's global presence."

Delighted to help connect cricket with visionary leadership in Mumbai where it was a true honour to meet His Highness @HamdanMohammed with @ImRo45, @hardikpandya7, and @surya_14kumar. These moments typify the uniting influence of cricket worldwide. pic.twitter.com/znTkXnJ22O

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) April 9, 2025

He also praised the efforts of the Emirates Cricket Board and its Chairman His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, under whose leadership cricket has received unprecedented support in the UAE.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) , under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan , is playing a firm and active role in the widespread dissemination and institutional development of cricket in the UAE.

He clarified that the UAE does not want to be limited to just hosting international tournaments , but its aim is to establish cricket deeply at the social level and train local talents to take them to the international stage . For this, work is being done rapidly on many plans like expansion of infrastructure, coaching programs and establishment of cricket academies.

While India is the birthplace of cricket and the world's largest cricket market, the UAE is providing it with a global platform, modern infrastructure and a platform for international competition. This cooperation can become a perfect example of sports diplomacy in the times to come.