Snehasis Mukherjee in Dubai
India’s cricket team are currently in Dubai for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. After losing their first match to New Zealand, they bounced back with a win over Pakistan. Aside from the cricket action, there are places in Dubai that every cricket fan should visit, and the Shyam Bhatia Cricket Museum is one of them. RevSportz had an amazing experience when we went there.
The museum is two stories high and was opened on April 18, 2010, with ICC directors in attendance. With permission from Dubai Municipality, it was built within Mr Bhatia’s residence. Originally from India, he has lived in the UAE for 45 years. He founded Alam Steel Group in 1979, which is now one of the largest steel companies in the Middle East.
The museum reflects Mr Bhatia’s deep love for cricket. It showcases the history of cricket from 1887 to the present day. It has over 2,000 cricket books, magazines, and autographed bats, donated by cricket legends. Famous players like Sir Viv Richards, Steve Waugh, Graeme Smith, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Sunil Gavaskar and many others have visited this place.
Most of these legends of the game visited during the ‘Shyam Bhatia Annual Awards’ function, where male and female players from the UAE are honoured for their outstanding performances. These cricketers have also left comments on the museum walls. The museum’s pillars represent all Test-playing nations, sharing their histories. There is also a wall that displays the results and stats from every edition of the World Cup.
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Mr Bhatia personally guided us through the museum, sharing interesting stories. He also told us about his charity work, Cricket for Care. This initiative helps underprivileged children by giving them free cricket kits. He has even helped in countries like Japan and Indonesia, not just Test-playing nations.
Recently, former BCCI president Anurag Thakur visited the museum. “He was very happy and wrote a very nice note,” said Mr Bhatia. Visitors can also see his book, Portraits of the Game, displayed in the museum. In an exclusive chat with RevSportz, Mr Bhatia shared his journey and how he started the museum.
“I have been in Dubai since 1965,” he said. “I played cricket and hosted dinner parties for teams in Sharjah. That is how I met many greats. In 2004, I started a gallery but later decided to make it into a museum. I never thought it would become this popular. Many players have contributed, and we are planning something even bigger.”
He hopes players from the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup-winning team will visit the museum. He plans to add new items like boots and bats from the champions. Before ending, he shared an encouraging message for the India Women’s team: “My message is to play hard and win. You have the talent, so play well.”
This museum is surely more than just a trip down memory lane. It is a celebration of cricket’s rich legacy and the dedication of those who love the game.
Also Read: India’s win over Pakistan: 5 talking points