Baseball United: The First Professional Baseball League in the Middle East and Asia
Baseball United, the first professional baseball league dedicated to baseball in the Middle East and Asia, is set to launch in November 2021. The Dubai-based league recently signed a partnership with the Emirates Cricket Board, which granted them a 15-year term to host, lead, and develop baseball at the professional level, all the way down to the youth level in the UAE. The league’s first showcase will involve four franchises facing off in four games, before an eight-team league follows a year later.
The Vision of Baseball United
Kash Shaikh, the Chairman and CEO of Baseball United, expressed his excitement about the upcoming launch of the league. He believes that it is historic for Baseball United, professional baseball, and sport within the region. The league’s partnership with Emirates Cricket Board is an opportunity to grow the game at the youth level in the UAE. Shaikh is grateful to the ECB for their vision, belief, and support.
The Role of International Players
Initially, Baseball United’s team rosters will be packed with established international players. However, the agreement opens the door to developing regional talent in the coming years. Shaikh plans to establish development and talent programs in India and Pakistan, as well as across Gulf Cooperation Council nations. He has been meeting high-ranking sports and government officials to get support for Baseball United.
Building Momentum Across GCC
Shaikh has been building momentum across GCC by meeting with high-ranking sports and government officials. In Saudi Arabia, he met with the Saudi Arabia Baseball and Softball Federation. The Saudi federation is the only baseball federation in the region, in GCC. In Doha, Shaikh met with the committee that organized the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as with the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Bein Sports, and the Qatar Little League. Six of the stadiums used at the World Cup could be retro-fitted and used for baseball.
Growing List of Investors and Endorsers
Among Baseball United’s growing list of investors and endorsers are former stars like Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre, Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, and Albert Pujols, as well as Elvis Andrus, an active player with the Chicago White Sox. The project’s progress continues to generate buzz across the baseball world.
Unique Experience for Regional Audiences
Shaikh is clear that, as a start-up, Baseball United is not looking to compete with Major League Baseball. Instead, they aim to give regional audiences a unique experience and will look to keep growing in the coming years. Joining the Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs in November’s showcase will be two as yet unnamed franchises from the GCC. The two new teams could be announced as early as July.
Final Thoughts
Baseball United is set to make history by becoming the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and Asia. The league’s partnership with Emirates Cricket Board is an opportunity to grow the game at the youth level in the UAE. Shaikh plans to establish development and talent programs in India and Pakistan, as well as across Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Baseball United aims to give regional audiences a unique experience and will look to keep growing in the coming years.