Dubai: G Force Cricket Academy, one of the leading cricket academies in the UAE which is on top of the table in the ongoing Emirates Cricket Board’s Under-17 Inter academy tournament, will soon host a Twenty20 tournament with a difference.

Gopal Jasapara, the head coach of the G Force Academy has conceived a Twenty20 tournament which will help cricketers improve their game.
Speaking to Gulf News, Jasapara said: “Twenty20 format has been severely criticised for spoiling the game due to the reckless and lofted shots that players attempt to score to get runs. This has happened as hitting sixes is the batsmen’s main objective. So we decided to introduce a tournament where a batsman who hit a six will be declared out.”

The objective of this tournament is to teach cricketers to play good ground shots and learn the art of picking the gaps.

Jasapara believes that this way cricketers will learn to not throw away their wickets and get runs through boundaries in all formats of the game.

“The more ground shots you play, the more runs you can score. For every five boundaries scored, one bonus boundary will be awarded to the batsman. With no power play, and a 42 yards boundary, you have to be a smart thinker to hit balls in the gaps and play tactically to dominate the bowler,” added Jasapara.

Incidentally, the tournament is named T20 Smart Cricket tournaments since players have to be smart to keep the scoreboard ticking.

In order to ensure batsmen do not have it too tough, Jasapara, who had also introduced T10 tournaments for budding cricketers, has brought about some changes to the playing conditions.

“Each team will consist of only ten players so there could be more gaps on the field, A bowler will be allowed only a maximum of three overs per bowler. The tournament’s aim is to help players improve on their skills, and make them better thinkers.”

Interested teams can register for the tournament through the academy’s website.

Meanwhile, Sharjah Cricket Council has announced that the 43rd edition of the Bukhatir Premier League 50-over-a-side tournament will commence from the first week of April. The event will be open to all teams and clubs and also corporate houses. The organisers have also revealed that all the matches will be played at the Sharajh stadium as day/night games starting 5pm onwards. Coloured clothing and dinner will be provided to each team. The winners and runners-up together can pocket Dh40,000.