Papare music set to add Sri Lanka touch to Friday's ODI at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
The United Arab Emirates may be the Pakistan cricket team's adopted home with support to match, but at the first One-Day International (ODI) at Dubai Sports City on Friday, there will also be a touch of Sri Lanka in evidence.
That is because among the crowd will be a papare band, playing a style of music that is commonplace at cricket matches from Dambulla to Hambantota and everywhere in between, including the capital city Colombo.
George Hettiaratchy, a Sri Lanka supporter who has lived in Dubai for the past 27 years, has helped coordinate the band's presence at Friday's match and he said papare music was a longstanding part of Sri Lankan life.
"I believe this type of music was introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese when they ruled the coastal areas of the island nation," he said.
"Papare is very popular among spectators, especially during sports events. We Sri Lankans, by nature, like to enjoy by listening to music and dancing."
Mr Hettiaratchy said the music which features drums and trumpets would enhance what is already expected to be a great atmosphere at the venue for the opening match of the five-game series.
"Playing papare in the stands while all Sri Lankan spectators are waving colourful lion flags and wearing national-coloured t-shirts will certainly add glamour to the occasion," he said.
"I assure you there will be a carnival atmosphere in the stands as our motto is ?win or lose, enjoy the game."
And he said he felt sure the Sri Lanka players would be lifted by the sound of the papare band playing during the match.
"All of them will have been brought up since their school days enjoying papare music while playing and it has become second nature to them," said Mr Hettiaratchy.
Mr Maqbul Dudhia, General Manager ? Sports Business at Dubai Sports City, said: "We are delighted to have a papare band playing at Friday's match as it will add an extra dimension to what should be a superb occasion with a great atmosphere.
"We hope the music and colour will ensure spectators will be entertained by events off the field as much as they are by events on it.
"Offering this experience is all part of Dubai Sports City's commitment to create a fan-friendly environment and put fans first.
"We have done that through our extensive use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Audioboo and we are also doing it through the provision we have made for Jumma Prayers at 1220, very close to the stadium, and there will be signs directing people to the area where they will take place.
"We look forward to a fantastic one-day and Twenty20 series, starting with the three matches hosted by Dubai Sports City," he added.
The first three matches of the five-game ODI series take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 11, 14 and 18 November, with all matches starting at 1500 and tickets are still available.
The series then moves to Sharjah (20 November) and Abu Dhabi (23 and 25 November).
Tickets for the matches in Dubai start from just AED25 and are available by ?phone and online from Box Office ME, Time Out Dubai and the Ticketing Co., as well as numerous outlets in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, with details available at http://www.dubaisportscity.ae/articledisplay.asp?id=78
Audio interviews, press conference audio and audio clips of Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, as well as the coaches of the two sides Mohsin Khan and Geoff Marsh, plus Shahid Afridi and Maqbul Dudhia of Dubai Sports City, all previewing the ODI and T20I series can be found at www.audioboo.fm.
It can be accessed by typing DSC into the search engine in the top right-hand corner of the Audioboo home page and is free for editorial use.
The three ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium are all part of 34 days of international action as DSC hosts its biggest season of cricket since the venue opened in 2009.
Already the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has staged the second Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan winning that encounter by nine wickets.
And after the forthcoming ODI series, England arrives in January 2012 to face Pakistan in two Tests, two ODIs and two T20Is over a two-month period.
In March 2012 the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.