CHANDIGARH, SEPT 22 : Sixteen leading teams of the country will compete in the 20th All India J.P. Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament to be held from September 26 to October 6 at PCA Stadium Mohali, Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, LIC Cricket Academy GMHS Sector 26 Chandigarh, St.John School Sector 26 Chandigarh , Barwala and Government. College Ground Ropar. The tournament will be played under the auspices of Punjab Cricket Association and is recognized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
According to Organising Secretary Sushil Kapoor the tournament, will be played on league cum knock out basis. All the matches will be of 50 overs each innings. The final will be played at Sector 16 Stadium Chandigarh on October 6 under lights. The winners will get a cash prize of Rs. 2.00 lakh along with winners’ trophy and runners-up Rs.1.00 lakh with runners-up trophy. There will be man of the match award for each Match. Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Player of the Tournament will be awarded during the finals of the tournament.
According to convener Vivek Atray special award for the most technically sound young batsman will be named as D.P. Azad award to perpetuate the memory of legendary coach who had long association with the tournament and was a personal friend of late Mr. J.P. Atray.
The teams have been divided in four pools and top two teams from each pool will qualify for the quarter finals. Baroda Cricket Association, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, DDCA President’s XI, Air India Delhi, Reliance Industries Mumbai, All India FCI Delhi, MRF Chennai, PCC, PCA Colts, State Bank of Mysore, CAG Delhi, ONGC Delhi, DASCB, Canara Bank Bangalore, BSNL Delhi, Players ITC and Income Tax-XI are the teams figuring in the tournament. There will be 31 matches including the finals in this 11 days cricket tournament.
Organising Committee chairman Chander Shekhar all arrangements have been put into place for a successful conduct of the tournament. The inaugural ceremony of the tournament will be held at GMSSS Sector 26, Chandigarh with a match between MRF Chennai and MPCA. The tournament will be inaugurated by Mr. V.K. Singh, IAS, Finance Secretary, U.T.Chandigarh.
The tournament is being supported by M/s Preet Land Promoters and Developers Pvt.Ltd., Mount Shivalik, KPH Dream Cricket Pvt. Ltd., Canara Bank, Central Bank, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board. Mr. Chander Shekhar said that this would be a good opportunity for cricket fans of tri-city to watch upcoming players in this 11 days of exciting cricket involving 31 matches including the first time day & night finals at the newly installed flood lights at Sector 16 Stadium.
He further said that this time a new outfit DASCB Delhi who have recruited some young players is taking part in the tournament. He further said that this tournament has been a lucky launching pad for young cricketers who have gone up to play at the highest level. Parveen Kumar, Rahul Sharma,Ajayankya Rahane,Chiteshwar Pujara, Siddharth Kaul, Jeevanjot Singh are the latest additions in the list of successful players . He hoped that some more youngsters will make it to the top.