July 10, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: A cricket academy started with great fan following under the iconic name of Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has now left many Dubai families grappling with disappointment, unpaid fees, and unanswered questions. The Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down in Dubai, formally known as Grasport Sports Academy in partnership with CricKingdom in May 2025, leaving over 35 families and several unpaid coaches in a lurch.
Promising top-tier cricket training inspired by Rohit Sharma’s legacy, the venture launched in September 2024 with optimism. Now, it stands as a cautionary tale about mismanagement, unmet promises, and financial chaos unfolding not on the pitch, but off it.
Dreams Turned Sour for Families
When the Rohit Sharma cricket academy, Dubai, opened across four school campuses, many parents eagerly enrolled their children, drawn by the cricketer’s name and a slick marketing campaign. Promotional content featured Rohit Sharma’s images and slogans like “Train under the best” flooded social media.
“We joined with high expectations because of the Rohit Sharma name,” shared Jithil, one of the first to enrol his child.”His photo was everywhere, brochures, ads, banners. It gave us the confidence that the quality would be excellent.”, said Pratap, a Dubai-based parent.
However, by early 2025, signs of trouble began to appear. Classes became irregular despite many parents having paid the full-year fees in advance. By mid-May, the Rohit sharma cricket academy shuts down and had stopped operations entirely.
In a WhatsApp message dated May 28, parents were informed by CricKingdom’s global operations head, Sushil Sharma, that Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down and will not continue. While promises of refunds were made, no amount has been reimbursed so far.
Unpaid Coaches Struggle to Survive
The Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down in Dubai didn’t just affect families; it hit the coaching staff even harder. Salaries were reportedly delayed as early as December 2024, and by May, payments had stopped altogether.
“I’ve been pleading for my salary for months,” said Tiran Sandun Wijesuriya, an assistant coach. “Now, I can’t even pay my rent. My landlord wants me to vacate the room.” Assistant coach Ayo Mene Ejegi, “I stopped asking. I just kept receiving empty promises”, a former player for the Nigerian and Serbian cricket teams added.
Even senior staff, like former Sri Lankan cricketer Chamani Seneviratne, faced repeated issues. “I wasn’t even paid fully in some months. Since May, I’ve received nothing,” said Chamani Seneviratne. The coaching team, which included six ICC-certified professionals, was personally vetted by CricKingdom representatives. Many had moved to Dubai specifically for this opportunity a decision that has now left them financially and emotionally drained of the fact Rohit Sharma Cricket Academy Shuts Down.
Franchise Fallout and Accountability Crisis
The Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down saga deepened when it was revealed that Grasport had violated its franchise agreement with CricKingdom by not paying dues. According to Chetan Suryawanshi, CEO of CricKingdom, Suhas Pudota, the man behind Grasport defaulted on payments as early as October 2024.
“In March 2025, we asked them to immediately stop using Rohit Sharma’s image and the CricKingdom brand until dues were cleared,” Chetan said. The final termination of the agreement came on June 30, after repeated delays and unmet commitments. In his defense, “I came with big dreams, said Suhas. But rental costs were too high around Dh50,000 per month. We lacked a proper financial plan.” By April, Suhas had left the UAE, promising to return payments within a week, a deadline that has long passed.
Meanwhile, CricKingdom has acknowledged the reputational damage and stated that it had no direct control over day-to-day operations. However, parents argue that the brand’s association with Rohit Sharma gave the venture legitimacy and now, CricKingdom cannot disown the fallout cause of Rohit Sharma Cricket Academy Shuts Down.
What Lies Ahead: New Promises Amid Broken Trust
To rebuild confidence, CricKingdom announced plans to open a new cricket academy in Dubai after Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down independent of Grasport. On May 29, they informed parents about this plan and assured them that either refunds or fee adjustments would be provided.
Yet, for parents like Indrajit, who invested both money and trust, the damage has been done. “CricKingdom gave us nothing but assurances. No refund, no compensation, no accountability”, said Indrajit. Several families have now taken the matter to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DED). One parent, Deep, confirmed that the DED informed him on July 4 that Grasport’s business license and bank accounts had been frozen and investigations are ongoing about Rohit Sharma Cricket Academy Shuts Down.
As CricKingdom works on registering a new entity in the UAE with plans to resume training by September, families remain cautious. The brand may carry weight, but rebuilding trust will take more than promotional campaigns, it will require action. “We didn’t sign up for drama. We signed up for discipline, mentorship, and cricket. Instead, we got excuses.” are the words of one distraught parent.
The Rohit Sharma cricket academy shuts down episode has highlighted the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and oversight in franchise-led ventures. What began as an inspiring initiative under a sporting icon’s banner now serves as a reminder even celebrated names cannot shield a business from poor planning and lack of follow-through. As of now, families, coaches, and even the CricKingdom brand are left to clean up the mess with everyone hoping that this bitter innings doesn’t repeat itself.
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