International Cricket Council marks its official move to Dubai Sports City

Members of the International Cricket Council board gathered in Dubai today to celebrate the ground breaking of the ICC's new state of the art Global Headquarters to be located in Dubai Sports City.

"This is a very exciting day for all concerned with the ICC,' said ICC President Ehsan Mani.

"After all the debates that have gone on over the last few months, today's ceremony represents a fantastic new chapter in the history of the ICC and the game of cricket."

Mr Mani was joined at the ceremony by ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed and board members, Teddy Griffith (West Indies) and Bob Merriman (Australia).

Mr Speed said: "There were several reasons for our decision to move to Dubai. The financial benefits have been well covered but the ICC will also be a more effective and efficient organisation by bringing its entire staff under one roof. We will be better able to serve our members once we have made this move.

"What some people don't realise is the fantastic infrastructure that Dubai offers. This, along with the brand new facilities that Dubai Sports City proposed and the geographical advantages that Dubai offers in relation to the cricketing world, makes it the ideal location," he added.

Mr Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, partner, Dubai Sports City said: "We are pleased that the governing body of one of the world's major sports has chosen Dubai Sports City as the place to have its headquarters. The ICC had already chosen to locate its first ever Global Cricket Academy at Dubai Sports City and today is further confirmation of their endorsement of Dubai, which is an important development not only for the region, but also for Dubai Sports City."

He added: "It has always been our goal to build the first integrated sports city with the best possible facilities and in the process create the most prestigious sporting destination in the world."