Dubai Diary: Huge match tickets a windfall for fortunate blue-collar employees
The discuss of the city amongst Indian sub-continent expats is shifting towards the India-Pakistan recreation of the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday, with Mohammed Rizwan’s males stepping on Dubai soil on Thursday night. The occasional request for tickets, from lodge employees to cab driver, sends the loud and clear message that the match is a sellout, and value tags are too excessive for a lot of.
That is the place a neighborhood businessman has determined to chip in, as a part of the corporate’s CSR (company social accountability) exercise, to distribute 100 tickets of the large recreation free to his blue-collar employees, the choice being made by means of draw of heaps. Danube Group, a Dubai-based actual property and residential furnishings firm, will likely be handing out 400 tickets in all for India’s three group video games in addition to the primary semi-final on 2 March.
That is the second time the corporate has taken such an initiative for its employees whereas on Sunday, the administration will likely be internet hosting a joint screening for followers in each India and Pakistan jerseys to foster camaraderie and switch the encounter into simply one other cricket match.
“Cricket is an emotion that unites individuals throughout borders. Lots of our blue-collar employees are devoted cricket followers however the excessive ticket costs and overwhelming demand make attending a dwell match a distant dream for them. Watching their cricketing idols dwell in motion will likely be an unforgettable expertise,’’ group vice-chairman Anis Sajan mentioned.
In an announcement, Sajan, an avid cricket buff himself, mentioned: “I want I may have despatched my total staff however I used to be capable of handle solely 400. This was the utmost I may accommodate.”
Sunny: By no means a boring second
In the meantime, there appears to be by no means a boring second for Sunil Gavaskar, the seniormost member of the commentary staff in Dubai on the ripe previous age of 75. After wielding the microphone for India’s opening recreation till late night towards Bangladesh, the little grasp took an early morning flight to Kasaragod in Kerala the place a highway is being named after him on Friday.
