June 27, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 26,1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, June 26: Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) received a major boost on Thursday when Touchme Cosmetics announced to sponsor the second phase of the annual Talent Hunt programme, the inter-zonal under-17 tournament, over the next five years.

Speaking at a media briefing, Khalid Ahmed Nainitalwala, chairman of Touchme Cosmetics who is also a vice-president of the KCCA, stated that it was pertinent that the youngsters get involved themselves in healthy recreational activities.

Prof Sirajul Islam Bukhari, while unveiling details about the forthcoming tournament, remarked that KCCA has provided many outstanding cricketers and in recent times individuals such as Shahid Afridi, Shadab Kabir, Hasan Raza, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria graduated from these annual programmes to international stage.

Bukhari appealed to other institutions to come forward and sponsor tournaments since KCCA now has the advantage of having five grounds where more competitions could be staged.

KCCA president, Munir Hussain, applauded Nainitalwala for his generous offer of sponsorship. He expressed the hope that it will help promote cricket at grassroots level so that more talented players are groomed.

The inter-zonal U-17 tournament for the Touchme Trophy features 16 teams drawn from seven zones of the KCCA. Zones V and VII will field three teams each while the rest of the zones will be represented by two teams apiece.

Zone-VI Whites, the defending champions, are placed in Group ‘A’ along with Zone-I Blues, Zone-III Blues and Zone-VII Blues. Group ‘B’ includes Zone-II Whites, Zone-IV Whites, Zone-V Blues and Zone-VII Greens. Zone-III Whites, Zone-VII Whites, Zone-V Greens and Zone-Vi Greens are in Group ‘C’. Last year’s runners-up Zone-V Whites are joined in Group ‘D’ by Zone-I Whites, Zone-II Blues and Zone-IV Blues.

The group champions will qualify for the semifinals where Group ‘A’ winners are scheduled to meet Group ‘C’ champion team. The other semifinal features Group ‘B’ winners against the winners of Group ‘D’

The tournament opens with Zone-III Whites taking on Zone-V Greens at TMC Ground on Sunday after the routine facial scrutiny and inaugural ceremony.

Cricketers born on or after Sept 1, 1986 are eligible to take part in the 50-over per side tournament.