JEDDAH, 14 December 2003 — Jeddah Cricket League (JCL) will organize an Arab News-sponsored Under-19 cricket tournament this month-end. JCL President Shahid Amin made the announcement following a meeting with Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled A. Al-Maeena recently.
“Al-Maeena is a keen supporter of the game and patron of Cricket Control Board (CCB) of Saudi Arabia, JCL and Eastern Province Cricket Association,” Amin said. He also acknowledged the contribution of Zainal Alireza who is also a patron of CCB and JCL.
Arab News is sponsoring the U-19 cricket tournament organized by JCL from 2000. “This year, the tournament has been slightly modified to accommodate schools and colt teams of JCL’s registered clubs. So the inter-school U-19 tournament has been renamed as Jeddah U-19 Tournament,” Amin said.
A team will represent each participating school. Children not accommodated in their school team will have the opportunity to play as part of a JCL-registered club team. Similarly children who do not have cricketing facilities in their schools could join a registered club and play the U-19 tournament.
“This is meant to broaden the base of participation of young and budding talents. This is also in line with the objectives of JCL to develop the game and be able to hunt for talents from among budding cricketers in Jeddah,” Amin said.
The JCL is shortly convening a meeting with participating schools and JCL clubs to finalize the tournament schedule. JCL on its part has already formed a working committee for organizing the event. The four-member committee includes Saidul Hasan and Azizullah Sharief as coordinators, and Ihsan Rafay (finance) and Syed Majeedul Hasan (press coordinator).
