Former Dubai curator reveals what to expect from Asia Cup pitches

Asia Cup: Former pitch curator tells what to expect in Dubai.

Asia Cup: With the Asia Cup set to be hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, all eyes are on how the pitches will behave in the UAE’s unique conditions. Former Head Curator of Dubai International Stadium and ICC Academy, Tony Hemming, has shared valuable insights into wicket preparation and the challenges of maintaining them throughout the year.

Hemming, who worked as Head Curator from 2007 to 2017, played a key role in shaping the cricketing infrastructure in the UAE. Speaking to The Indian Express, he explained how the pitches were designed with a long-term vision and why dew is expected to influence the upcoming tournament in a significant way.

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“In 2007, I was appointed by the ICC to help design and build the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and also the ICC Cricket Academy, along with the famous Rod Marsh,” Hemming recalled.

“We had this opportunity to dream, do whatever we wanted to. So, we built the ICC Academy, importing soils from around the world.”

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To create a variety of playing surfaces, soils were sourced globally.

“We brought 360 tons of soil from Australia, including Gabba (Brisbane) and WACA (Perth) soil. We also brought 360 tons of soil from Pakistan and 150–180 tons from England,” Hemming said. “We were supported well by the board at the time, which included Malcolm Speed, who was our CEO.”

What to expect in the Asia Cup

According to Hemming, the dew factor will be crucial during the tournament, particularly in Dubai. The cooler evening temperatures and high humidity often result in heavy dew, which can make life difficult for bowlers in the second innings and tilt the balance towards chasing sides.

“The wickets will remain hard and true, but dew could become the biggest game-changer,” Hemming explained. “Teams will need to factor this in when making decisions at the toss and planning their bowling strategies.”

With the pitches prepared to replicate surfaces from different cricketing nations, fans can expect competitive matches offering both bounce and spin, while dew promises to add another layer of unpredictability to the Asia Cup spectacle.