Ramadan Floodlit Cricket Tournament 2000

Sharjah Cricket Council is going to conduct the Ramadan Floodlit Cricket Tournament for 'A' and 'B' Division teams from the 1st day of Ramadan, which is likely to fall on 27th November 2000. All the matches will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium under floodlights of international specifications. Both the tournaments are immensely popular and a hit with the crowd

This highly prestigious and popular local cricket event was first held in the Holy month of Ramadan in 1989. Ever since it has gained in popularity and has become an important and well-attended cricketing event in Sharjah.

The event will be spread over almost a month and a good attendance of spectators is expected daily and on the day of the final. Entry to the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is free for all stands except the VIP enclosure.

In the 'A' Division tournament, foreign clubs also participate on a regular basis. Clubs from the sub-continent, Gulf and as far as England have participated in the tournament in the past.

Last year Collage Group from New Delhi and Raha C.C. from Oman were the two foreign clubs while Hatton National Bank from Colombo, Sri Lanka and Raha C.C. participated the previous year.

Twelve teams consisting of six foreign clubs and six top local teams are likely to compete for the coveted 'Trophy' in the 'A' Division tournament this year while sixteen top 'B' Division teams will fight it out for the prestigious event which has become a permanent and important feature on the UAE cricket calendar.

Some of the star players who have participated so far in this event in the past are Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Asif Mujtaba, Rashid Latif, Basit Ali, Sajid Ali, Athar Laiq and Shoaib Mohammad from Pakistan, Ajay Jadeja, Atul Wassan, Rahul Dravid, Chandrakant Pandit, Kirti Azad, Iqbal Khan, Amit Bhandari, and Virender Sehwag, from India, Ian Greg, Alec Stewart, Jack Richards, Graham Thorpe and Adam Hollioke from England, Champaka Ramanayake, Ruwin Peiris and Russell Arnold from Sri Lanka and Anthony Gray from West Indies.

Cash prizes of approximately AED 15,000/- will be distributed in the tournament for 'A' Division while AED 8000/- will be the prize money for the 'B' Division tournament.

All the 'A' Division local clubs are allowed to include two international players in their playing eleven to add further colour to the tournament. The "B" Division sides can include upto a maximum of three registered players from other teams who are not participating in the event due to some reason.

The 35-overs 'A' division and 30-overs 'B' division event is played on single round robin league cum knockout basis where the top two teams advance to the knockout stage after playing preliminary league in their group.

Coloured clothing is provided to all the teams with the name of the sponsors, team and tournament embossed on it. Coloured leg guards are also provided on the day of the match.

The 'A' Division tournament starts at 8.30 PM and dinner is provided during break to all the players and officials. The 'B' Division tournament starts around 3.30 PM. Iftar (snacks) is provided during the break.

The fixtures of the foreign clubs are arranged in such a way that their stay is minimal for obvious economic and other logistics reasons. Matches of foreign clubs are thus scheduled in the last ten days of the tournament.

The other features of the tournament are as under: -

• The tournament will receive wide coverage in the local English press & on the 'Internet' on uaecricket.com. Match reports will appear daily along with the match fixtures. Total number of matches are approximately 56, out of which 25 are 'A' division matches while 31 are 'B' division matches.

• The electronic scoreboard will be used for all the 'A' Division matches as well as the finals of both the 'A' and 'B' Division tournaments.

• The local English press is likely to the cover the "Prize Presentation Ceremony".

• The "Prize Presentation Ceremony" will receive wide coverage in local English press & on the 'Internet' on www.uaecricket.com.

• A giant size board will be displayed near the entrance of the main pavilion on one of the busiest roads of the UAE highlighting the tournament, its main sponsor and co-sponsors.

• Attractive prizes including cash prizes are on offer to the winners and runners.

• Three main tournament prizes of 'Man of the Tournament', 'Best Batsman', and the ' Best Bowler'.

• Individual Man of the Match awards for all the matches.

Tuesday, November 07, 2000.
source : UAEcricket.com.

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