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| December 21, 2006 | Thursday | Ziqa'ad 29, 1427 |
Third Twenty20 Cup gets into action today
KARACHI, Dec 20: Sialkot Stallions will defend their title in the ABN-AMRO Twenty20 Cup when the third edition of the tournament commences from Thursday with enhanced prize money.
When the Stallions beat Faisalabad Wolves, winners of the inaugural edition in 2004-05 in the final last March here in Karachi, they scooped up Rs600,000 along with the trophy. The champions in the latest tournament stands to earn a whopping Rs1,000,000 – an increase of Rs 400,000.
Likewise the runners-up would get Rs 500,000, an increase of Rs200,000 on what the Wolves took home last year. The sponsors have also expanded the prize money in other categories as well. Each winning team in the league phase will pocket Rs 15,000 per match compared to Rs 12,000 in the second edition while the losers would get Rs 10,000 each instead of Rs 8,000.
The two semi-final winners stand to earn Rs 20,000 compared to Rs 15,000 while the two losing teams would get Rs 15,000 as against Rs 10,000.
Among the individual awards, the Man-of-the-Match at the group stage and the semi-finals will get Rs 20,000 while the Man-of-the-Final will be rewarded with Rs 25,000 along with the competition’s best batsman, bowler, wicket-keeper and fielder.
Although the organizers are hoping to have a star-studded competition with almost all the national heroes in action, it is unlikely that at least two of Pakistan’s batting stalwarts will play at all.
Mohammad Yousuf, the prolific run-machine who had a dream run in Test cricket this year, is shortly proceeding to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is also likely to miss out as he has not yet made full recovery from a finger injury sustained 10 days ago during the third One-day International against West Indies at Lahore. With the tour of South Africa coming up shortly, the Pakistan captain would wisely settle for complete rest rather than risk a fresh injury.
The format in this tournament has been changed with 13 teams divided into four pools. Apart from Group ‘A’, which features four teams, the rest have three each.
Four matches are scheduled on the first three days at three venues with National Stadium staging the two evening fixtures. The preliminary phase concludes on Dec 24 with three matches.
The semi-finals are slated for Dec 25 while the final takes place the next evening with all three games to be played under lights at the National Stadium.
Meanwhile, the PCB officials are anxious to ensure an incident-free tournament this time after the last edition was disrupted by unruly behaviour of some people in the huge crowd during the final at the National Stadium.
Rowdy scenes were witnessed when miscreants pelted stones and debris on the fielders and resorted to break chairs in the stands. As a result of that violence the final was only decided at half past two in the morning after security was belatedly beefed up.
There were reports of other incidents in earlier matches as well as the organizers grossly overlooked the security factor.
Pools:
Group ‘A’: Faisalabad Wolves, Karachi Dolphins, Lahore Eagles, Abbottabad Rhinos.
Group ‘B’: Sialkot Stallions, Hyderabad Hawks, Karachi Zebras.
Group ‘C’: Multan Tigers, Peshawar Panthers, Islamabad Leopards.
Group ‘D’: Lahore Lions, Rawalpindi Rams, Quetta Bears.
Schedule:
Dec 21: Karachi Zebras v Hyderabad Hawks at UBL Sports Complex (10.00am); Lahore Eagles v Abbottabad Rhinos at NBP Sports Complex (10.00am); Faisalabad Wolves v Karachi Dolphins at National Stadium (5.00pm); Peshawar Panthers v Multan Tigers at National Stadium (8.30pm).
Dec 22: Multan Tigers v Islamabad Leopards at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium (10.00am); Rawalpindi Rams v Quetta Bears at NBP Sports Complex (10.00am); Faisalabad Wolves v Lahore Eagles at National Stadium (5.00pm); Sialkot Stallions v Karachi Zebras at National Stadium (8.30pm).
Dec 23: Karachi Dolphins v Abbottabad Rhinos at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium (10.00am); Sialkot Stallions v Hyderabad Hawks at UBL Sports Complex (10.00am); Islamabad Leopards v Peshawar Panthers at National Stadium (5.00pm); Lahore Lions v Rawalpindi Rams at National Stadium (8.30pm).
Dec 24: Lahore Lions v Quetta Bears at NBP Sports Complex (10.00am); Faisalabad Wolves v Abbottabad Rhinos at National Stadium (5.00pm); Lahore Eagles v Karachi Dolphins at National Stadium (8.30pm).
Dec 25: First semi-final at National Stadium (5.00pm); Second semi-final at National Stadium (8.30pm).
Dec 26: Final at National Stadium (7.00pm).
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