Dubai: An indoor cricket league tournament, which will feature Dubai’s districts clashing against each other, will get under way from June 5 at the United Pro Sports arena in Al Quoz.
Speaking at the launch of the league at the Radisson Royal Hotel, organiser Manish Kishore said: “We wanted a tournament which will generate huge interest among the residents of prominent places like Karama, Bur Dubai and Jumeirah. It will be the richest ever indoor event here.”
The eight teams competing are Athena’s Karama Hustlers owned by Bhavesh Vanjani & Rohit Balchandani; AAJ’s Downtown Strikers owned by Anuj Sheth; Cheqpoint’s Jumeirah Royals owned by Sunil Deliwala; Danube’s Jebel Ali Dynamos owned by Anis Sajan; Desi Bistro’s Emirates Kings owned by Vivek Bhatia; GMW’s Media City Stalwarts owned by Zafar Shah; Oxford Marine’s Qusais Boomers owned by Sameer Siddikh & Nadia Sameer and PNG’s Bur Dubai Fortuners owned by Paresh Gondkar. Beside Danube and Oxford Marine, all other corporates are playing Indoor Cricket for the first time.
“We are happy to have introduced six new corporates to indoor cricket. An Indian Premier League (IPL) like format has been introduced, allowing teams to preselect up to three players. Other players that were interested to take part were called for an open selections and trial session on May 15 where experienced selectors evaluated the players and pooled them into different divisions such as A, B & C. To encourage young talent, an Amity Rising Star category was included to ensure that each team picks at least one rising star.
The total cash prize is Dh40,000, with the winner standing to gain Dh25,000, runner-up Dh10,000 and Player of the Series can pocket Dh2000. There are cash awards for best batsman, bowler and fielder while ‘The Rising Star’ will get Dhs 1000 and scholarship courtesy Amity University Dubai.
