Emirates Cricket Board to advise Baseball United on its new professional league

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, announced today a historic partnership with Emirates Cricket Board.

The ECB will handle government-focused communication, regulations, and policy work, as well as leverage its deep understanding of cricket to advise Baseball United on relevant issues.

The agreement gives Baseball United a 15-year term to host its league in the UAE, which will include games and franchises in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The partnership will allow Baseball United to help drive the commercial and community-focused growth of the sport at the youth, amateur and professional levels. As part of the terms, Baseball United will be responsible for organizing all aspects of its league, including facilitating stadium partnerships, scouting and signing players and coaches, and leading all marketing and operational activities of the league.

“In a season of significant milestones, this partnership with the ECB is our most meaningful to date,” said Kash Shaikh, president, CEO and co-owner of Baseball United. “This is an unprecedented agreement that will enable both Dubai and Abu Dhabi — two of the world’s most attractive cities — the opportunity to be the launchpad for professional baseball in the Middle East. And, importantly, it ensures that Baseball United will be playing baseball here in the UAE for many years to come. We are honored for the trust shown in our organization by the ECB and its Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, and we are grateful for their vision and support. We will now work alongside each other to bring the worlds of bat and ball sports together here in the UAE.”

The Middle East and South