PCB to organize a Super League one-day Ramadan Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to organize a four-team Super League one-day Ramadan Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium. The decision was taken in the Cricket Management Committee (CMC) meeting under the chairmanship of Iqbal Qasim. Zakir Khan, General Manager Cricket Operations, also attended the meeting.

The tournament will be held between November 11 and 27 with five of the 13 matches to be played under lights. The teams will be picked by the selection committee of Wasim Bari.

The idea behind organizing the tournament is to assemble all the top performers of the previous season and given them an opportunity to exhibit their talent and potential. This tournament is also part of PCB's talent hunt scheme as the best performers of the tournament would be considered for selection in national, junior and academy teams.

The tournament will also serve as an ideal opportunity for some boys to play, perform and press their claims for a recall in the Pakistan cricket team for future international events.

Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood and Misbah-ul-Haq will appear in the initial games but would be unable to finish the tournament as they are expected to leave for Zimbabwe one-dayers either on November 16 or 18.

The CMC also decided to include a third Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) in the Cornelius Trophy starting January 21. With Afghanistan cricket team added earlier, a total of 25 teams will now vie for top honours.

The CMC also finalized the relegation and promotion system. Two bottom placed associations and one department from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be relegated to Cornelius Trophy and Kardar Trophy. Likewise, the finalists of the Cornelius Trophy and the winner of the Kardar Trophy will be promoted to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

The two bottom placed teams in the Cornelius Trophy will be relegated to the PCB Trophy while the finalists of the PCB Trophy will be promoted to Cornelius Trophy.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be participated by 14 association, 10 departments and a PCB team. The Cornelius Trophy will have 25 teams (24 associations and Afghanistan cricket team) whereas the Kardar Trophy had 11 departments with the final between Sui Gas and PTCL starting Saturday at Lahore Country Club, Muridke. There will be 28 associations in the PCB Trophy.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will begin December 21, Cornelius Trophy from January 21, PCB Trophy from February 19 and the Patrons Cup national one-day tournament will tentatively commence February 26 (to be participated by top eight departments and top eight associations of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy).

The relegation and promotion of the National Under-19 Championship was also finalized. The finalists of Grade-III will be promoted to Grade-II, finalists of Grade-II will be promoted to Grade-I while the bottom placed teams of Grade-I will be relegated to Grade-II and bottom placed teams of Grade-II will be relegated to Grade-III.

The schedule of the Super League one-day Ramadan Cup is:

Nov 11 - Match one. Umpires: Mian Aslam-Saleem Badar. Match referee: Abdul Sami. Scorer: Masood Ahmad

Nov 12 - Match two. Umpires: Saleem Badar-Athar Zaidi. Match referee: Azhar Khan. Scorer: Muhammad Akbar

Nov 13 - Match three. Umpires: Saleem Badar-Asad Rauf. Match referee: Ehtishamuddin. Scorer: Azhar Hussain

Nov 15 - Match four. Umpires: Athar Zaidi-Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee: Khateeb Rizwan. Scorer: Riaz Ahmad

Nov 16 (D/N) - Match five. Umpires: Aleem Dar-Asad Rauf. Match referee: Khateeb Rizwa. Scorer: Abdul Hameed

Nov 17 (D/N) - Match six. Umpires: Mian Aslam-Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee: Sultan Rana. Scorer: Najamus Saeed

Nov 19 - Match seven. Umpires: Athar Zaidi-Iqbal Butt. Match referee: Anwar Khan. Scorer: Abdul Hameed

Nov 20 - Match eight. Umpires: Aleem Dar-Iqbal Butt. Match referee: Anwar Khan. Scorer: Riaz Ahmad

Nov 21 - Match nine. Umpires: Mian Aslam-Iqbal Butt. Match referee: Abdul Sami. Scorer: Muhammad Akbar

Nov 23 (D/N) - Match 10. Umpires: Riazuddin-Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee: Sultan Rana. Scorer: Masood Ahmad

Nov 24 (D/N) - Match 11. Umpires: Riazuddin-Asad Rauf. Match referee: Ehtishamuddin. Scorer: Azhar Hussain

Nov 25 - Match 12. Umpires: Riazuddin-Aleem Dar. Match referee: Azhar Khan. Scorer: Najamus Saeed

Nov 27 - FINAL. Umpires Riazuddin-Aleem Dar. Match referee: Sultan Rana. Scorer: Najamus Saeed.

Samiul Hasan
G.M - Media
November 1, 2002