A private cricket museum built by a Dubai businessman has turned into a must-see destination for young enthusiasts of the sport in the region.
The collection began with dozens of autographed balls and bats collected in 1981 by Shyam Bhatia, the founder and chairman of Alam Steel, one of the oldest and largest steel companies in the Arabian Gulf.
Dubai, United Arab The cricket treasury now fills a spacious 371-square-metre gallery in the compound of Mr Bhatia's Jumeirah residence.
Saturdays are very busy, when children from cricket academies and schools book appointments to view the several hundred autographed bats, balls, helmets, stumps and T-shirts that belonged to international cricketers.
Asigned photograph of Sachin Tendulkar.
Shyam Bhatia also donates cricket kits to underprivileged children worldwide as part of his charity, Cricket for Care, and organises annual awards for promising young local cricketers.
Walls are etched with data and photographs from World Cups, including the winning 1983 India team pictured here.
One of Shyam Bhatia's first pieces of memoriabila, a signed mini-bat, from the 1983 world cup winning Indian team, which he attended.
Laws of cricket from the late 1800's.
Shyam Bhatia was honoured earlier this year with the Mother Teresa Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in making circket available to the under privileged.
A bat signed by the Australian batting legend Don Bradman has pride of place alongside his batting statistics, while the blue Indian team tie and jacket of batting hero Sunil Gavaskar adorns another section.
A private cricket museum built by Dubai businessman Shyam Bhatia has turned into a must-see destination for young enthusiasts of the sport in the region. Photos by Christopher Pyke / The National
