Abu Dhabi gear up for season-opener

ABU DHABI // The Abu Dhabi Cricket Council open their innings with the Fortune Group Ramadan Twenty20 tournament at the swanky Sheikh Zayed stadium under lights on Thursday. The popular tournament is in its fourth year and will draw international cricketers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as in the past. "There are no restrictions on the number of international cricketers featuring in this year's event," said ADCC president Dilawar Mani. "Any team can fly down any number of players, but they must play at least one round game to be eligible for the quarter-final stage onwards."

The number of teams in the competition has been restricted to 20 because of time constraints and will be worked off on a league-cum-knock-out round. The top two teams from the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals. Mani added: "We will encourage local teams to fly down international cricketers and turn this into a high-profile event. As it is, the Ramadan Cup in its Twenty20 format provides excellent night cricket competition and entertainment.

"The crowds love it with two games played every night. A total of 47 games will be played over 28 days and we have given preference to the better teams and teams that take part regularly in our competitions. "Abu Dhabi is an international venue and we are blessed with the leadership of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, who has categorically outlined his vision of developing the sport into a national past-time as well as continuously promote the game among the expatriates and develop an academy to encourage the youth."

Abu Dhabi will stage a three-match ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies on Nov 12, 14 and 16, which is the highpoint of the new season. They have previously hosted an India-Pakistan two-match series, the DLF Cup in 2006 and the Warid series last year. Teams: Group A: Atlas Telecom, Eurocon Alubond, United Bank Limited, Avis, Gamco. Group B: Esnaad, Nissan al Masaood, Fortune Group, Yogi Group, Darwish bin Ahmed. Group C: Seven Seas, Ace, Electro Cooling Centre, Arab Udupi, Gasco. Group D: UAE Exchange Centre, First Gulf Bank, Emirates NBD, Ibsons, William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana.

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