JEDDAH, 18 January — Jeddah Cricket League organized the prize distribution function for the tournament sponsored by Hempel Paints at the Red Sea Palace Hotel. In the league-cum-knockout tournament Olympic Airways came out triumphant to secure the trophy. Red Sea Paints were the runners-up team and Netsle Milo won the consolation cup. This was the first time that Hempel Paints had sponsored a cricket tournament. Hempel Paints support sporting activities and had until now sponsored mostly football, basketball, golf tournaments in the Kingdom.
But in Jeddah Hempel Paints has a very active and supporting relationship with Jeddah Cricket League. The cement pitches at the JCL complex were protected by epoxy paint provided free of cost to JCL. Hempel also have its own ground allotted by JCL in the JCL complex with a built-in pavilion. The awards function attended by more than 120 players representing the JCL clubs witnessed outstanding individual performers and teams receive the awards. Gary Seabrook (Regional Manager Eastern Province) was the chief guest at the function. Hailing from South Africa he is a keen enthusiast of the game and had all praise for JCL’s role in promoting cricket in Jeddah. He commented that he is in Dammam for last five years and has not come across such tremendous response to a cricket function.
Earlier, when he was in Dubai he played cricket, but there also he did not come across such a huge cricket organization and felt that JCL was towering over all other local cricket organizations in the Middle East. JCL President Shahid Amin thanked Hempel Paints for sponsoring the tournament and hoped that this relationship would continue. Mohammed Iqbal Choudhary welcomed the chief guest and the players. The winning team Olympic Airways consisted of the following players, Mir Ahmed Ali Hashmi (Secretary), M.K.Farooque (Manager), Shahid Iqbal (Captain), Amanullah, Waheeduddin, Abu Hassan, Ishtiaque Ahmed, Shameem Ahmed, Mohammed Farooque, Rayees Ahmed, Rafiuddin Farooque, Faisal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asif Iqbal, Naveed and Nasrullah. The runner-up team Red Sea Paints consisted of the following players, Muhammad Akram (Captain), Kosar Ali Khan (Vice Captain), Munir Ahmed, Altaf, Naveed Ahmed, Liaqat Ali, Shabbir Ahmed, Basharat Ali, Saeed Ahmed, Ishtiaque Ahmed, Arif Hussain, Mansoor Anwar, Yousef, Saleem Butt and Shamim.
The consolation cup for Nestle Milo was received by Zahid Qureshi (Captain). The Individual awards for various categories was as follows.
1) Three batsmen with best average in the league, Qassim of Saudia City (342 runs average 85.00), Faisal of Olympic Airways (319 runs average 79.75) and Naseem Khan of Saudia City (310 runs average 62.80) 2) Batsman with maximum runs in the league Shahbaz of Nestle Milo (506 runs) 3) Best batting performance in a match, Qasim of Saudia City (100 runs against Gandour) and Shabaz of Nestle Milo (100 runs against Red Sea Paints) 4) Bowlers with best average in the league, Naseem Khan of Saudia City (15 wickets for 104 runs average 6.73), Abu Hassan of Olympic Airways (20 wickets for 160 runs average 8.00) and Amanullah of Olympic Airways (24 wickets for 238 runs average 9.91) 5) Bowler with Maximum wickets in the league, Ammanullah of Olympic Airways (24 wickets) 6) Best bowling performance in a match, Abu Hassan of Olympic Airways (5 wickets for 6 runs against (OMO) 7) Best all-round performance in a match Anwar of Tamer (58n.o and 5 wickets for 26 runs against Salaheen) 8) Best all rounder of the league, Zubair Malik of Fuchs Petroleum (390 runs and 16 wickets) 9) Best partnership, Naseem Khan and Qassim of Saudia City (131 run 2nd wicket against Sana Sports) and Shahbaz / Omer of Nestle Milo (127 runs 1st wicket against LUNA) 10) Best wicket keeper, Tanveer of Nestle Milo (11 victims) 11) Hat Trick, there were three hat trick in the tournament , Zubair Malik (Fuchs), Mahmood (Sadafco) and Jaleel (Hempel Paints) The awards function was followed by dinner and the following JCL executive members, Sadiqul Islam, Naeemullah, Akhtar Hussain, Zafar Makki and Hamid Rana were specially and individually thanked by the chief guest for a well-organized function.
