MS Dhoni to Open Cricket Academy in Dubai

Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is planning to open a cricket training academy in Dubai. The academy, which will come up at Dubai Pacific Sports Club (PSC), will see Dhoni join Indian cricketers such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag, all of whom have cricket academies in their name.

Dhoni will visit Dubai next month after the ongoing Sri Lanka series to kick off the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy (MSDCA), Gulf News reported. The cricket star expressed his happiness with tie-up with PSC, the report added.

A viable business platform

“Sports has attained a global stature not just for fostering athleticism and sportsmanship, but also as a viable business platform that involves many different stakeholders, from small businesses to big conglomerates and organizations. I am delighted to be a part of the club and will contribute in any means possible to make it a success,” Dhoni said.

Tie-up with Pacific Ventures

Parvez Khan, the chairman of Dubai-based developer Pacific Ventures, also spoke of the club’s excitement about its association with Dhoni. “PSC has all exclusive rights to MS Dhoni Cricket Academy (MSDCA), not just in the UAE but other GCC countries, South Africa and the UK,” Khan, the man behind many high-profile sporting events in the UAE, said. Khan had also owned the Capricorn Commanders, a team that competed in the Masters Champions League.

Dhoni will be the brand ambassador for the academy and will frequently visit the country to involve himself in the activities at PSC. “What makes this venture exciting is that this is for the first time ever that the cricketer is launching his academy and he chose Dubai for the launch of his new venture,” Khan added.

The academy, which will be based in Springdales School, Al Khail, promises to offer high-level coaching and training as well as strategic sports development programmes to aspiring cricketers. It will form partnerships with schools and colleges in the UAE to develop and manage sports programmes. “PSC and MSDCA will be working hand-in-hand to develop and launch training camps that will hopefully become a breeding ground for future professional athletes,” Khan added.