KARACHI, Nov 12: Club cricket in Pakistan received boost Monday when organizers of the Paragon Cup announced record cash awards worth Rs600,000 for the competition to be played between Ramazan 1 and 28.

The winners of the 17-team contest will take away Rs300,000 while the losing finalists will pocket Rs150,000. In addition to this, the losing semifinalists will be awarded Rs10,000 each.

Apart from team awards, each of the 28 man-of-the-match will get Rs1,000 each whereas Rs10,000 will be distributed to the four man-of-the-quarterfinals. Rs5,000 will be awarded to man-of-the-semifinals while man-of-the-final will get Rs10,000.

Player-of-the-tournament will be richer by Rs20,000. The award for fastest century and half century was Rs22,000 and Rs10,000. In addition to this, Rs500 for each Hit the Board is an added attraction. The 25-over-a-side matches will be played at the UBL Sports Complex.

Aftab Siddique, Managing Director of Paragon Constructors, told a news conference that the objective behind lucrative cash awards was to attract the players and spectators.

He said the event would be held annually with the aim that cash awards are increased every year.

Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan hoped that Karachi would find more young talent from this tournament who could be groomed into better players. He, however, regretted that such tournaments should have been organized by the KCCA but added that now people who want to contribute to city cricket should be brought in the fray which would help KCCA’s cause.

The 17 clubs have been divided into four groups. Two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage.

GROUP A: Landhi Friends, Tapal, Pak Gymkhana, Delhi City, Baqai Dolphin.