PANJIM: The All India 3rd Babu Naik Memorial Trophy organised by Sports Authority of Goa and Margao Cricket Academy tournament will be held from December 26 to 31 at four centres namely SAG Fatorda, Agonda, Chicalim and GCA Sanguem ground.
Eight teams will vie for the trophy in two groups of four with one group consisting of Chowgule, Salgaocar, Nashik CA and Daniel CA (Hyderabad) and the second are BSNL (Delhi), Dempo, DTDC (Mumbai) and Geno SC.
Tournament secretary Hemant Angle while speaking to the press informed that this year the tournament has been organised for the senior players.
“We have been organising the U-15 tournament earlier but this year we are holding a senior level tournament so that our local players get an opportunity to play top Ranji players from all over India”, he said.
“It is not that we have stopped the U-15 tournament. We will also hold it in May 2018”, he added.
“Initially the tournament was to be held with 10 teams but was reduced to eight as IOC and Abhijit Kale CA dropped out due to unforeseen circumstances”, Hemant informed.
Each team will play three games in league format out of which top four teams will clash in the semi-finals. Final will be held on December 31 at SAG ground, Fatorda.
“Each match will be of 90 overs and will start at 9.30 a.m. on all four grounds simultaneously. A total of 14 matches will be played in the tournament”, Hemant disclosed.
He further appealed to the cricket fans to come out and watch the Ranji players of different states vie for the trophy.
Winners will be richer by Rs 50,000 while the runners up will have to settle for Rs 30,000. Man-of-the-Series will take home Rs 10,000 while best bowler and bastman will bag Rs 5000 each. Man-of-the-Match for each game will receive Rs 1000.
Sports Minister, Babu Azgaonkar, TCP Minister Vijay Sardessai and Digamber Kamat will grace the opening ceremony while MLA’s of constituencies of each ground would open the tournament simultaneously.
The GCA has played its part by sponsoring the Sanguem ground.
