Baseball United to Form UAE’s First National Baseball Team
Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, announced plans to form the first national baseball team in the history of the UAE.
Baseball United received official sanction from the Emirates Cricket Board to manage the UAE national baseball team and establish a baseball-related development program in the country. Cricket Board of the United Arab Emirates Emirates Cricket Board. The new squad will participate in international baseball competitions. The first one will be Baseball United’s first Arab Classic, which will take place at Baseball United’s new ballpark in Dubai from November 7–10, 2024.
Baseball United presented the ECB with a plan for the team and program as part of its grassroots, community development strategy.
The new sanctions underscore Baseball United’s professional knowledge, expertise and heritage as a respected international baseball organization that helps oversee player selection, player development and team participation in baseball competitions around the world.
Thanks to the vision of President Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
The ongoing support of the Emirates Cricket Board and vice-chairman Khaled Al Jarouni and Secretary General Mubashir Usmani, we have reached another significant milestone to play baseball in this region,” said Kash Sheikh, president, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United.
The new team will now compete against Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and five regional nations in Baseball United’s Arab Classic event.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are fielding national baseball teams for the first time. The tournament will be the largest national baseball team tournament in the region’s history, with all games played in Baseball United’s historic new ballpark at The Sevens Sports and Entertainment Complex.
The UAE National Baseball Team will follow the World Baseball Classic (WBC) eligibility standards and regulations, which will allow expanded representation and involvement to local inhabitants. WBC regulations permit players who are born in the nation or territory of the national team, as well as those who are permanent legal residents, to compete in its international events.
In addition, players who have at least one parent who, if deceased, was a citizen of the national team’s country or territory, or whose parents were born in the national team’s country or territory are also eligible to play.
The UAE has a population of 11 million, 90% of whom are expatriates. In addition, the UAE has one of the most diverse populations in the world, home to over 200 nationalities. According to global research firm YouGov, there are around 800,000 baseball fans in the UAE.
“I am sure this milestone will be an inspiration to countless young players, coaches and fans in the UAE. We are excited to implement our baseball training curricula and professional ethics and work towards building the most competitive team possible. There is no doubt that the UAE team will make their country proud.”