LAHORE, Nov 10: The inaugural Lahore Gymkhana cricket cup-2005 begins with the opening match to be played between Universal Cricket Club and Lahore Gymkhana at the Bagh-i-Jinnah ground on Sunday.

The tournament is being organized to mark the completion of 125 years of Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground, Lahore Gymkhana cricket committee convenor Khalid Ikram Malik told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

Announcing the details of the event, he said that top 16 local cricket clubs would vie for a big cash prize of Rs 100,000. The runners-up, he said would also get Rs 50,000.

The teams had been divided into four groups and matches would be played on league basis at six different venues.

The leaders of each group will make the last four. Both the semifinals will be played at the Bagh-i-Jinnah ground on Dec 1 and 2 and final on Dec 4.