Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster

Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster
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Shortstop Chris Beyers, who has been a fixture for several years in the city, will run out this November for the Wolves. (Supplied)
Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster
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Pitcher Sean Fekete, who starred in the Dubai Little League while attending the American School of Dubai, will run out this November for the Wolves. (Supplied)
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Updated 30 September 2025
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Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster

Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster
  • Inaugural season of first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia kicks off in November

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, signed on Tuesday two familiar faces from Dubai to the Arabia Wolves roster for its inaugural season.

Shortstop Chris Beyers, who has been a fixture for several years in the city, and pitcher Sean Fekete, who starred in the Dubai Little League while attending the American School of Dubai, will run out this November for the Wolves.

The Wolves — Dubai’s new professional team — will play all their games at Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens sports and entertainment complex.

Beyers starred for the Dhahran’s (Saudi Arabia) Little League team that made it to the Little League World Series in 2007 and 2008. He has played professionally in Germany and also represented his native South Africa in international baseball tournaments.

He was the final player selected to play in the Baseball United All-Star Showcase in November 2023 in Dubai, and also competed in the Baseball United UAE Series in February this year.

Fekete, who lived in Dubai for seven years, played Division I college baseball at Oakland University in the US, and also represented the Hungarian National Baseball Team. He also played for the Wolves during the Baseball United UAE Series earlier this year.

Both Beyers and Fekete played for the UAE National Baseball Team, which was constructed by Baseball United and competed in the Arab Classic Tournament in November 2024.

The addition of these two players on the Wolves roster is a significant milestone for baseball in Dubai and across the GCC.

The Dubai Little League, founded in 1996, has more than 500 families associated with its baseball and softball program. There are additional youth leagues in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

“We are proud to have two players on the Wolves’ roster who have called Dubai home for many years,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United.

“These guys grew up competing on the fields just a few minutes outside of downtown, and now they’ll be suiting up as professionals in our league’s inaugural season in front of their families, friends, and community.

“I’m very happy for Chris and Sean, and I know their stories will inspire the next generation of great players right here in Dubai.”

The Arabia Wolves are one of Baseball United’s four founding franchises, alongside the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs and Mid East Falcons. The Wolves roster includes a mix of international veterans, regional talents, and young prospects.

Baseball United’s inaugural season will begin on Nov. 14, 2025, in Dubai, with 21 games scheduled over four weeks.

The Wolves — Dubai’s home team — will play their first game on Tuesday, Nov. 18, against the Cobras, and a total of nine games during the regular season.

The season will conclude with the United Series — a best-of-three championship between the top two teams — held from Dec. 12 to 14 at Baseball United Ballpark.

All Baseball United games will air locally and internationally, with official broadcast partners to be announced in October. The full Wolves roster and schedule can be viewed at baseballunited.com.


Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
Updated 13 November 2025
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Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
  • Sri Lanka players had asked to return home after a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 12, but their board said no
  • PCB has moved the remaining ODIs to Nov. 14 and 16, shifted the upcoming T20I tri-series entirely to Rawalpindi

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday announced a revised schedule for its ongoing One-Day International series against Sri Lanka after confirming the tour would continue as planned, despite concerns raised by some Sri Lanka players following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad.

According to Reuters, some Sri Lankan cricketers requested to return home from their Pakistan tour for safety reasons after the incident in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured 36, but their board issued a stern directive to stay put or face consequences.

Sri Lanka are touring Pakistan, playing a three-match ODI series followed by a Twenty20 tri-series along with Zimbabwe this month. Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Pakistan in the second ODI in Rawalpindi, hardly 20 kilometers from Islamabad, on Thursday, but the contest has been rescheduled for Friday.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would like to inform fans and stakeholders that the schedule for the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi has been slightly revised,” the PCB said in a statement.

“The 2nd ODI, which was originally scheduled for 13 November 2025, will now be played on 14 November 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” it added. “Tickets purchased for 13 November will remain valid and can be used for entry on 14 November.”

The PCB also said it had revised the schedule of the upcoming T20I Tri-Nation Tournament involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, saying the changes were made in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

Under the revised schedule, the remaining ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now be played on 14 and 16 November, 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS), while the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament shall now completely be played in Rawalpindi, commencing 18 November, with the final scheduled for 29 November 2025.

The PCB said the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will serve as an important preparatory platform ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

It informed the updated fixtures for both the ODI series and the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will be shared shortly on the PCB’s official platforms.

The Sri Lankan players were targeted by militants in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore in 2009 who attacked their bus, injuring at least six players.

The incident brought visits by international teams to Pakistan to a halt. Pakistan’s own team had to play their “home” matches in the United Arab Emirates.

However, security improved in subsequent years in major urban centers and test cricket returned when Sri Lanka toured in 2019.

In the ongoing series, Pakistan have won their first ODI, which was also held in Rawalpindi, by six runs on Tuesday.