Women cricketers bring Asia Cup excitement to Dubai classroom

More than 700 students at a Dubai school swapped the classroom routine for a close encounter with international cricket when the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Trophy Tour arrived on campus.

Arcadia Global School in Al Furjan hosted women’s national team players from the UAE, Hong Kong and Thailand on September 4. Pupils in Years 5, 6 and 7 took part in a question-and-answer session, a cricket quiz and practical games. They also joined the players for batting, bowling and fielding sessions using the school’s nets and bowling machines.

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For our girls especially, seeing successful female cricketers on their own school stage sends a powerful message: there should be no ceiling on ambition.

For the school, the visit offered more than a sporting demonstration. It introduced students, particularly girls, to successful women competing at the highest level. “Hosting the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Trophy Tour was incredibly special for Arcadia Global School because cricket is part of the fabric of our community. We do not simply like cricket, we love it,” founding principal Andrew Wilson said.

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Students learn that success is rarely about talent alone. They hear first-hand about the hard work, setbacks, sacrifice, resilience and determination that sit behind achievement.

Wilson said meeting elite athletes helped students see the determination and resilience behind professional success. “For our girls especially, seeing successful female cricketers on their own school stage sends a powerful message: there should be no ceiling on ambition,” he said.

He added that the players’ direct conversations showed children that achievement depends on more than natural ability. Students heard about hard work, setbacks, sacrifice and persistence, while everyday habits made ambitious goals appear more attainable. “Extraordinary achievements often start with very ordinary things, turning up, working hard, responding positively to failure and refusing to give up,” Wilson said. “These are lessons that extend far beyond sport.”

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Extraordinary achievements often start with very ordinary things, turning up, working hard, responding positively to failure and refusing to give up.