JEDDAH, 16 December 2003 — The first match in the Jeddah Cricket League’s Under-19 Tournament, being sponsored by Arab News, will be played at the JCL Complex on Thursday.
Announcing this at a meeting of school and JCL club representatives held here on Sunday, JCL President Shahid Amin said invitations had been sent to 17 schools to take part in the annual tournament.
Pakistan International School, Pakistan International School (English Section), International Indian School, Manarat Jeddah School, Al-Wadi International School, Al-Waha International School, and Hala International School have already confirmed their participation. Any school still interested in contesting in the tournament should contact Iqbal Chowdhry (Mobile 054-665-395).
This is for the second time that Arab News is sponsoring the U-19 cricket tournament, which JCL is organizing from 2000. “This year, the tournament has been slightly modified to accommodate schools and colt teams of JCL’s registered clubs. So the Interschool U-19 tournament has been renamed as Jeddah U-19 tournament,” Amin said.
A unique feature of this year’s tournament is that there will be two events for U-19s — one for schools and the other for colt teams of JCL’s registered clubs in which U-19s who do not figure in their school teams can play. Both events will be conducted simultaneously so that a U-19 player representing his school does not figure in any colt team.
“This has been done to facilitate children who are not accommodated in their school teams. Such children 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 broadbase the 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. “Some of our U-19 players who have returned home have landed good jobs or are pursuing their cricketing career,” he added.
Six schools have expressed their inability to participate because of the holiday season. They are Continental, Jeddah Prep, (SAIS) PCS, Sri Lankan, Philippine, Biladi and Afnan.
Amin said participating school teams would be divided into two groups. The groups and JCL colt teams will play matches every Thursday over the next six weeks from 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Matches will be restricted to 20-over an innings and a maximum of four overs per bowler. “Wicketkeepers can bowl if they wish,” he said.
The JCL on its part has already formed a four-member working committee for organizing the tournament. The committee includes Saidul Hasan and Azizullah Sharief as coordinators, and Ihsan Rafay (finance) and Syed Majeedul Hasan (press coordinator).
Aside from the trophies for winners and runner-ups in the tournament’s two events, prizes would be offered to 60 players — 15 players figuring in the winning and runner-up teams of each of the two events. Additionally, awards will be given to best all-rounder, best batsman, best bowler, best wicketkeeper, best fielder, best partnership, hattrick and some special awards like man-of-the-match. Trophies for umpires and participation certificates to players will also be given. At the end of the tournament, a festival match will be played between the winning school team and a JCL-Under 19 team.
