30 teams for Heineken cricket 7s

BY : A STAFF REPORTER.
The Heineken Champions Cup inter-hotel cricket 7s tournament will be held at the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club, on April 22-23. Thirty teams have registered for the two-day competition, which consists of a round robin on day one and then a knockout format to decide the winners of the Champions Cup and Plate competitions, on day two.

In addition, there will be prizes for Man of the Tournament, Fastest 30, Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Best Fielder.

Marek Sheridan, marketing manager MMI, organisers, speaking at the draw on Sunday, said: "This is the seventh inter-hotel cricket 7s tournament that we have organised, and the first to be sponsored by Heineken. The tournament is always enthusiastically supported and again, this year, we have 30 teams ready for a weekend of friendly competition. We would like to wish all the competing teams the best of luck and a very enjoyable weekend of cricket."

David Wither, general manager Gulf, Heineken, added: "On behalf of Heineken, we are delighted to be sponsoring the inter-hotel cricket 7s tournament for the first time. Not only are we helping create a lot of pleasure for people who are interested in cricket but we are also helping bring the hospitality industry together for some healthy and enjoyable competition. We wish all the teams success and may the best team win."

The 30 teams, consisting of up to nine players and a manager, will be split into eight groups of three teams each, for the round-robin competition on day one, and the winners and runners up in each group will play for the Heineken Champions Cup. The third and fourth place winners will play-off for the Plate.

Current holders are Abela Catering (Champions Cup) who beat Hyatt in last year's final, and Oasis Beach Hotel (Plate winners).

The Heineken Champions Cup is a fun weekend event for serious and not-so serious cricketers, and friends and family are all welcome ­ entry for spectators is free of charge.

MMI, a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, is a marketing services company providing marketing and distribution support to the leisure, corporate and consumer retail markets of the UAE and Oman.

The teams taking part include Abela Catering, Renaissance Hotel, Jumeirah International, Ramada Hotel, Towers Rotana, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Royal Mirage, Dubai World Trade Centre, Meena Plaza, Jebel Ali Hotel, Al Bustan Rotana, Intercontinental Hotel, Movenpick Hotel, Fairmont Hotel A and B, City Centre Hotel, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai A and B, Capitol Hotel, Ramada Continental, Crown Plaza, Ascot Hotel, Le Meredien Dubai A and B, Oasis Beach, Panorama, Nad Al Sheba, Regent Palace and Palm Beach.

Monday, April 19, 2004.
source : © Gulf Today.