Dubai, United Arab Emirates — What began as an ambitious idea to bring professional baseball to the Middle East and South Asia became reality today when Baseball United made its first full-season debut in Dubai. The Karachi Monarchs and Mumbai Cobras opened the league’s inaugural campaign in front of fans, media, and broadcasters across a region that has never hosted a professional baseball season.
Players, coaches, and executives spent the week arriving in the Emirates, going through workouts, media day sessions, and final preparations ahead of a month-long schedule that will run through December 14. All four league franchises — the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Arabia Wolves, and Mid East Falcons — will play 12 games before the top two advance to the United Series.
Baseball United’s path to today’s debut started in 2022, when Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera joined CEO Kash Shaikh as co-founders of the world’s first professional baseball league built for the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and the Gulf. The league then expanded ownership to an international group of former Major Leaguers including Ronald Acuña Jr., Felix Hernández, Didi Gregorius, Nick Swisher, Robinson Canó, Andrelton Simmons, Starling Marte, Elvis Andrus, Bartolo Colón, Robinson Chirinos, Hanley Ramírez, Albert Pujols, Shane Victorino, and Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré.
Partnerships with Pakistan Federation Baseball, grassroots programs in India, and showcase events in Dubai helped accelerate the league’s growth. The West Asia Cup in Pakistan, co-organized by Baseball United in 2024, became a major step toward establishing a regional baseball identity.
Two major media announcements followed this fall.
October 28: a broadcast partnership with Zee Entertainment to carry Baseball United games across India.
November 8: PTV Sports joined as a broadcast partner in Pakistan.
With these agreements, Baseball United now reaches a combined market of more than two billion people.
Ahead of tonight’s opener, Karachi Monarchs shortstop Isaac Nuñez spoke with World Baseball Network about the significance of the moment.
“He’s changed the game,” Nuñez said about CEO Kash Shaikh. “He has given international baseball a huge new light. People have been playing in Korea, Japan, Europe, the States — but to be here in Dubai, to be here in the Middle East, he has absolutely changed the game. He’s given us the opportunity to play in front of potentially a billion people.”
Nuñez also spoke about the coaching staff guiding Karachi into Season One.
“Jay Bell is the definition of a player’s coach,” Nuñez said. “He has made every guy here feel like we’ve been playing for him for years. The competition here is remarkable — ex-Major Leaguers, guys from affiliate ball, international pros. It’s a great circle to learn from.”
All Baseball United games will be played at The BU Ballpark inside The Sevens Stadium Complex. The ballpark seats approximately 6,500 fans and features artificial turf tailored to nighttime starts and regional climate.
Karachi and Mumbai opened the season at 8 p.m. GST (11 a.m. EST). The Wolves and Falcons begin their schedule next week.
Managers for Season One
Mariano Duncan – Mumbai Cobras
Dennis Cook – Mid East Falcons
John McLaren – Arabia Wolves
Jay Bell – Karachi Monarchs
With dozens of former Major League and minor league players across all four rosters, Baseball United has also become a professional bridge for players looking to extend or revive their careers.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to be seen,” Nuñez said. “Guys can play here and then go right after this to Japan or anywhere else. One hundred percent.”
Fans can purchase tickets through District.ae, and full rosters, schedules, and broadcast information are available at BaseballUnited.com.
Baseball United enters its first full season backed by global ownership, cross-continental broadcast partners, and a growing grassroots presence in South Asia and the Gulf. The league now shifts from concept to competition, aiming to sustain interest throughout a compact season built for MLB’s offseason window.
World Baseball Network is in Dubai throughout the month with full on-site coverage, including stadium atmosphere, player features, and daily updates as Season One unfolds.
Photo: World Baseball Network’s Matthew Tallarini interviews Karachi Monarchs shortstop Isaac Nuñez at BU Ballpark ahead of Baseball United’s Season One opener in Dubai.
