Sport | Cricket
Councils to revive four-nation tournament
All the cricket councils in the UAE, on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board, have joined hands to revive a tournament that was a very popular event in the eighties.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:40 February 25, 2008
- Image Credit: Prasad Nair/Gulf News
- From left: Shaji-Ul-Mulk, Mohammad Lokhandwala, Shyam Bhatia, Mohammad Redha Abbas and Mazhar Khan at the announcement of the four-nation cricket tournament in Dubai.
Dubai: All the cricket councils in the UAE, on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board, have joined hands to revive a tournament that was a very popular event in the eighties.
The Four Nation Cricket Cup, contested between the top cricketers living in the UAE from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and from rest of the world, used to draw huge crowds.
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) will revive this tournament with sponsorship support from ardent cricket lover and businessman Shyam Bhatia.
Availability
"The tournament will be called Alam Steel Four-Nation Cricket Cup and the participating teams will be known as Emirates India, Emirates Pakistan, Emirates Sri Lanka and Emirates Rest," said Mazhar Khan, the chief coordinator of the ECB.
"The tournament will be a seven-game event set to commence from March 24 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Matches will be staged in Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium too, subject to availability of the ground," he added.
Interestingly, all the council officials Mohammad Lokhandwala of Dubai, Shaji Shahtaj including Khan had played in this tournament in the eighties while Bhatia was the team manager of Emirates India. Lokhandwala elaborated on the formation of the team.
"A maximum of 18 players will be selected by a three member management group for each team. Mohammad Hyder, Shaji and myself will manage Emirates India. Emirates Pakistan will be managed by Mansoor Pasha, Farukkh Siddiqui and Inamul Haq, Emirates Sri Lanka by Sumedha Dharmasena, Presley Polonnowita and Terence Rodrigo and Emirates Rest by Mohammad Redha Abbas, Amin Farooq and Saeed Al Saffar," said Lokhandwala.
Any player with a valid residence visa is eligible for selection.
"There will be six round robin 50-over games starting from 4.30pm. Players will be provided with coloured clothing. Winners can pocket Dh10,000 while runners up can win Dh7,000," said Bhatia.
Beneficiary next year
A player who contributes to UAE cricket will be selected as a beneficiary of the Alem Steel Four Nation Cricket Cup from next year. "I have always tried my best to reward cricketers who have contributed for the promotion of the game in UAE," said Shyam Bhatia, sponsor of the tournament.
"Every year during this tournament one cricketer will be selected as the beneficiary. Every year we have provided cash awards to outstanding cricketers and umpires in the UAE. These awards were given away by legends of the game like Imran Khan, Clive Lloyd, Greg Chappell and Sunil Gavaskar."
Multimedia
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