KARACHI: The Customs Cricket Academy (CCA) announced on Wednesday revival of the Inter-academy Cricket League after a lapse of five years with the second edition set to begin from Saturday.

Former Pakistan paceman Jalaluddin, who is also the CCA head coach, while unveiling the details of the forthcoming tournament at a media briefing at the Karachi Gymkhana, said that a total of six academies will participate.

The opening match will be played at the NBP Sports Complex with CCA taking on NBP Academy.

“The salient features of this tournament, which is confined to upcoming youngsters under the age of 19, are that batting, bowling and match points will be awarded to teams in each 40-over per side match while we have decided that a new ball can be claimed after 30 overs if a team desires,” Jalaluddin said. “The basic idea of reviving this event is to inculcate knowledge among the players who are mostly unaware of modern-day concepts in cricket.”

If a team scores 150 runs, they would automatic get five points; two more will be added if the total reaches 200 and another two if the team score advances to 250. A team stands to gain a total of 13 batting points if the side gets 275 or reaches its target within 80 percent of the allotted overs.

Likewise, 13 points will be up for grabs for bowling as well with the first four wickets worth four points, six wickets another two points and a further two for taking eight wickets. And if a team manages to get nine or all 10 wickets, they will earn two bonus points and another two if a team bowls its opponents inside 80 percent of the allotted number of overs.

A winning draw will be worth six match points and outright victory will earn the team nine points.

If the match ends in a tie, three points will be awarded to each team plus points accumulated through batting and bowling. In case of a washout or an abandoned match, both competing teams would get three points apiece.

According to the rules designed for the tournament, only registered players, who are born on or after Jan 10, 1997, will be eligible to participate.

Jalaluddin further added that the organisers have opted to hold the matches at weekend so that players are able to further their education with any hindrance.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015