September 13, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 30, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 12: A total of 18 teams, including six new entrants, will vie for honours when the annual Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket Festival begins from Friday with the advent of the holy month.

The winners of the 22nd edition of the tournament will receive Rs200,000 out of the Rs403,000 prize money. This was announced by Mian Azmat, the tournament director, at a media briefing on Wednesday.

The runners-up will pocket Rs 100,000 while the losing semi-finalists would get Rs20,000 each. Individual awards, amounting to Rs103,000 in total, will also be disbursed including prizes for the best batsman, best bowler, best fielder and the best wicket-keeper of the tournament.

The event is being staged on the same rules and playing conditions now applicable in the Twenty20 worldwide.

The teams have been divided into six pools of three teams each.

At the end of the league phase, the winners of the groups would qualify for the Super Six stage beginning from the 19th of Ramazan with teams placed in two pools of three. At the end of the second round, the top four sides will go through to the semi-finals.

The final is slated for the 27th of Ramazan.

Last year’s champions PIA Academy are not competing this time, but Eaton CC, Factdate Engg, Medicam CC, ABN-AMRO Bank, Qasim CC and Dewan Farooq Motors will make their debut in the coming event.

Pools:

Group ‘A’: Tapal CC, A.O. CC, ABN-AMRO.

Group ‘B’: KESC XI, Eaton CC, Ideal CC.

Group ‘C’: Karachi Gymkhana, Dewan Farooq Motors, Bed & Bath CC.

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

Group ‘E’: M. Tex XI, Cantt Sports, Omer CC.

Group ‘F’: Mohammad Hussain CC, Factdate Engg, Qasim CC.