KARACHI, Sept 28: The popular Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival cricket tournament will be staged for the 20th time at the KG ground from the 1st of Ramazan with 16 teams in fray for top honours.

Iqbal Umar, the KG president, expressed the hope that like in previous years, the forthcoming tournament would generate a lot of interest among the game’s followers.

This year’s event will again be sponsored by Callmate Telips, which has put up Rs387,000 in prize money with the winners set to receive an enhanced purse of Rs200,000, the runners-up Rs100,000 and the losing semifinalists Rs20,000 each. In addition there are individual cash awards.

Mohammad Ajmal Ansari, the chief executive of the sponsors, announced that his company would continue to support the KG tournament as well as promote other sports.

ICC’s new playing rules will be applied this year. The first four overs and two subsequent spells of two overs each will be considered ‘power-play’.

However, the ‘super sub’ rule will not be applied in the tournament.

Groups:

Group ‘A’: Delhi City Gymkhana, Malir Gymkhana, AOCC, SSGC.

Group ‘B’: Mohammad Hussain CC, Omar CC, Bed & Bath CC, Dewan Farooq Motors.

Group ‘C’: Customs CC, Callmate Telips CC, Cantt Sports, Baqai Dolphins.

Group ‘D’: Pak Gymkhana, Karachi Gymkhana, Tapal CC, Sindh Police.