RIYADH: Arab News, a major publication of Saudi Research & Publishing Company (SRPC), will be the title sponsor for an ‘Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2009’, scheduled to be organized during this season in Riyadh.
Khaled Almaeena, Arab News Editor-in-chief, who met with the senior RCA office bearers in his office and signed a sponsorship agreement here yesterday, announced this.
Speaking on this occasion, Almaeena praised the efforts of RCA in promoting cricket in the Central Province, and in unifying efforts to promote this game and encourage players throughout the Kingdom. “We are proud to sponsor the tournament with a mission to promote the game of cricket in the local community,” said Almaeena. Arab News has also sponsored the school knockout tournaments organized by RCA on previous occasions.
He said, “The Arab News sponsorship will go a long way in making the event a success.” “We’d like to thank RCA for making this year’s tournament possible and hope that this is the beginning of a long term alliance,” he added. Almaeena said that he is hopeful that the Arab News-RCA tournament will bring hundreds of students from different schools on the cricket ground in Riyadh this season.
According to him, “Arab News would always be in the forefront in promoting cricket among youngsters as the sportsmanship spirit, that needs to be inculcated among young minds which will instill a strong sense of healthy competition and confidence.”
Referring to the Inter-School Tournament, RCA President Abdul Qadeer Mirza briefed Almaeena about the RCA’s calendar of events and thanked him for his continuous support, both in terms of sponsorship and also in terms of media and PR support.
Mirza said that this school cricket tournament would help to take the cricket game forward in Saudi Arabia. “The young cricketers will gather at Sulay Cricket Ground here every Thursday afternoon, where they will play the matches after the commencement date is announced and the registration process for the schools are over. The event will also run during school holidays. Mirza remarked that RCA is thrilled about the enthusiastic response, which has now resulted in many schools joining the tournament.
He said there are many schools in the capital city and the RCA’s main objective is to introduce this development to all schools. Mirza also mentioned “RCA will work hard to make this tournament a big success.”
He thanked RCA committee members for working hard to make this event possible. The tournament will be officially called ‘Arab News Cup’. He pointed out that the Inter-School Tournament would be organized by RCA for which a four-member committee has been formed.
The panel includes cricket veterans like Hanif Babar, Tarek Butt, Rehan Khan and Asif Sheikh. He said that Babar, the RCA Grounds Manager, is making all efforts to ensure proper maintenance of grounds and pavilions for spectators are in place before the commencement of the tournament. To this end, Babar noted that RCA has prepared two more grounds in Sulay area which will be used for the Arab News Cup.
The schools, which have confirmed their participations so far, include Pakistan International School (Nasseriya), Sri Lankan International School, Bangladesh International School (English section), International Indian School, Jawahir International School, Manarat Al-Riyadh School, Al-Mansoor International School, Middle East International School, Pakistan International School (Sulemania), Delhi Public School, AL Momin International School, International Indian Public School.
Draws will be made in the presence of all the school team managers. The teams will be divided into two groups-one group for under-19 players and the second group for under-15 players.
The matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis. The tournament will help to promote the game of cricket in Saudi Arabia, a country that has only recently started playing cricket and is garnering support towards this game.
