Flintoff to open cricket academy in Dubai

Dubai:

Impressed with the facilities in place, star England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has decided to open a cricket academy in Dubai.

Flintoff, who is recovering from a knee operation for the last four months, said he got the inspiration for the academy after witnessing the enthusiasm of the city dwellers towards cricket.

"I will soon be setting up a cricket academy here. I am impressed with the enthusiasm for the game here. I am discussing with a few people on the possibilities of setting up the academy," said Flintoff.

"I now live here with my family and hence decided to set up my academy here," he said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of Shyam Bhatia cricket award function held recently.

The 32-year-old dashing batsman, who retired from Test cricket last year, believes Dubai has the potential to stage more sporting events in the future.

"A lot of sports events happened here in the past couple of months. The world's best tennis players are coming here in a week's time. The facilities here are second to none. That was the main focus when we decided to move here as a family," he said.

"The Sports City has all the required facilities. Dubai's proximity to the major cricket playing nations like India, South Africa and Australia was another attraction. I think over the next few years we will find a lot of big sporting events happening in Dubai," Flintoff said.