4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
16 teams in fray, All India Buchi Babu cricket tourney in Chennai from Aug 18-Sep 9
Chennai, Aug 13 (UNI) A total of 16 teams, including defending champions Hyderabad,
are in the fray for the All India Buchi Babu Invitation cricket tournament to be held in
Chennai from August 18 to September 9.
The tournament, sponsored by TAKE Sports, carries a prize money of Rs three lakh
to the winners and Rs two lakh to the runners-up, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association
(TNCA) President Ashok Sigamani and Secretary R I Palani told reporters here last
night.
The tournament, which featured 12 teams last year, will have 16 teams this year and
all the matches will be held in Chennai. It was held in districts during the last two years
in a bid to promote the sport at the rural level.
The group stage matches will be a three-day affair with a maximum of 90 overs in the
first innings and 45 overs in the second.
The teams were divided into four groups. The teams will play three matches in the
leagoe stage and the top team from each group will qualify for the semifinals to be
held from August 31 to September e and the finals frm September 6 to 9.
Hyderabad is the reigning champion when it defeated Chhattisgarh in the final last
year at Dindigul.
This oldest tournament was an prestigious event in the Indian cricket calendar and
has seen legends like Sunil Gavaskar turning up their teams in this tournament in
the past.
The tournament was also seen as an ideal preparation for the ensuing Ranji Trophy
season.
The teams :
Group A : TNCA President's XI, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra.
Group B : Railways, J and K, Baroda, Odisha.
Group C : TNCA XI, Mumbai, Haryana,Bengal.
Group D : Hyderabad, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand.
UNI GV 0955
