The impressive Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi last week played host to the England Test squad including fast bowler Sajid Mahmood. (0687143)

WITH England having departed, Guernsey’s cricket development squad are about to arrive at the ground where Kevin Pietersen and his team were training last week.

England’s tour of India was halted and the players flew home after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26 November.

The squad then based themselves at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the UAE before they decided to return to India to compete in a two-match Test series, which began yesterday with the first Test in the southern Indian city of Chennai.

And now the Guernsey development squad will also play at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the Academy Pro Arch Tournament, which begins this weekend.

Opened in May 2004, the stadium cost $22m. with a capacity of 20,000 people and is arguably one of the world’s finest.

‘It’s brilliant – they are going to play four games in a Test match and one day venue,’ said coach Jeremy Frith. ‘All the world’s great players have played there and we’re following in their footsteps.’