The ICC Global Cricket Academy (GCA) at Dubai Sports City is scheduled to open in 2008 and with Rod Marsh already installed as the Academy's Director of Coaching this project will be a fantastic asset for the ICC and a wonderful opportunity for the wider cricketing world.

Much planning and preparation continues to go on for this major project including work to ensure that the very best facilities are being sourced. The design is now largely complete and construction is underway.

Details such as annual programming, cricket education schemes and other initiatives that the Global Cricket Academy will be involved are also being planned. Tony Hemming has been appointed as the GCA's head curator while Marc Archer is the GCA General Manager.

The Global Cricket Academy forms an exciting part of the ICC strategy and is designed to provide opportunities for players, coaches, curators and administrators to hone their skills and learn in an environment focused on progress and achievement.

It has been designed as a flexible facility so that tailor-made programmes can be built to suit the specific needs of individuals and teams. As such, the best national teams in the world will be able to make use of the facilities by way of preparation when traveling to overseas tours and/or major events.

It will be the perfect place for county, state or provincial teams to hold warm-up or pre-season practice camps and it will also be ideal for development or underage squads to use an intensive training academy or for competitive tournaments.

The GCA's facilities will include two ovals - each with 10 turf pitches, outdoor turf and synthetic practice facilities, indoor practice facilities included hawk eye technology and a cricket specific gymnasium. A nearby 25,000-seater dedicated cricket stadium is also under construction and will be ready for use in 2008.