15 April 2005	Friday	05 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 14: Pakistan’s first Twenty20 cricket tournament will be played from April 25 to 30 here in Lahore. “Country’s 11 regional teams will be competing in an exciting and fastest version of one-day cricket which will be quite entertaining and a new form of cricket being introduced in the country,” the Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar M. Khan told reporters on Thursday.

The PCB chairman remarked that the holding of the event will mark a new era of cricket in Pakistan and it would generate the interest of the lovers of the willow game.

The 11 regional teams have been placed in three pools which will play four matches on the first three days while three matches will be held on the fourth evening. The top team from each pool will play a triangular series on April 29 followed by final on April 30.

In order to add incentive, colour and excitement to the event, the following incentive would be given to the players at the matches:

Man-of-the-Match Rs5000 for each match; Rs3000 for most boundaries; Rs2000 hit a round panel; Rs2000 ball in the crowd; Rs1000 for every six hit in the match; Rs1,000 for every four hit in the match; Rs5000 for 100 runs; Rs3000 for 50 runs; Rs3000 for taking a hat trick; Rs2000 for every maiden over bowled and Rs2000 for each wicket captured.

The winners of the event will pocket Rs300000, the runners-up Rs150000, Man-of-the-Tournament Rs50,000, best bowler Rs50000, best fielder Rs50,000, Best wicket-keeper Rs50000 and best batsman Rs50000.

Following are the groups and match programme of the tournament:

Group ‘A’: Karachi Dolphins, Peshawar Panthers, Hyderabad Hawks, Lahore Lions.

Group ‘B’: Lahore Eagles, Sialkot Stallions, Multan Tigers, Karachi Zebras.

Group ‘C’: Faisalabad Wolves, Rawalpindi Rams, Quetta Bears.

April 25: Rawalpindi Rams v Quetta Bears (LCCA Ground); Multan Tigers v Karachi Zebras, Karachi Dolphins v Lahore Lions, Peshawar Panthers v Hyderabad Hawks (Qadhafi Stadium).

April 26: Lahore Lions v Hyderabad Hawks (LCCA Ground); Sialkot Stallions v Lahore Eagles, Karachi Dolphins v Peshawar Panthers, Faisalabad Wolves v Quetta Bears (Qadhafi Stadium).

April 27: Karachi Dolphins v Hyderabad Hawks, Lahore Lions v Peshawar Panthers (LCCA Ground), Sialkot Stallions v Multan Tigers, Lahore Eagles v Karachi Zebras (Qadhafi Stadium).

April 28: Lahore Eagle v Multan Tigers, Karachi Zebras v Sialkot Stallions, Faisalabad Wolves v Rawalpindi Rams (Qadhafi Stadium).

Second phase (top team from each pool will play in the triangular series):

April 29: A v B, B v C, A v C (Qadhafi Stadium).

April 30: Final (Qadhafi Stadium).—APP