UD AL-BAYDA, United Arab Emirates — Emerging from the shimmering heat in the desert outskirts of Dubai is an unfamiliar sight in the Middle East, a baseball field.

Now that it's built, though, one question remains: Will the fans come?

What You Need To Know

Baseball United has launched its inaugural season in Dubai, aiming to bring baseball to the Middle East

The league featuring four teams kicked off on Friday at the new Barry Larkin Field

The Mumbai Cobras faced the Karachi Monarchs, drawing on the sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan and the large number of expatriates in the Emirates

The league introduces novel rules to speed up games and attract fans. All games will be at the stadium in Dubai's desert, with environmental concerns leading to an artificial field. Baseball Un

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