DOHA: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Sri Lankan paceman Nuwan Zoysa will face off in a local Cricket Tape Ball Tournament being organised by the Qatar Sports Club and QSports, it was announced yesterday.
A total of 16 teams featured in the Doha 6s Cricket Challenge that started on March 14 at the Qatar Sports Club grass fields.
The two finalists – Qalco (Qatar Lubricants Company) and Tusker - will get a chance to play alongside Akhtar and Zoysa at the Qatar Sports Club on April 11 in what is expected to be a thriller and the first 6-a-side cricket tournament being organised on this scale in Qatar.
Known as ‘the Rawalpindi Express’ in his heyday, Akhtar who played in 163 ODIs and claimed 247 wickets during his international career, said in a video message: “I am delighted to be a part of this exciting event and I look forward to meeting the cricket fans in Qatar.”
Zoysa featured in 30 Tests and 95 ODIs and bagged 108 wickets in limited overs game.
QSports, the sports management company, organising the tournament, reports huge interest in the tournament after 1,300 people signed up to witness the final on the event’s facebook page. “We are expecting record crowds during the final game as cricket fans are very excited to see top cricketers play in Qatar,” Adil Ahmed of QSports said.
Both the cricketers are expected to arrive in Doha on April 9.
“The Qatar Sports Club realises the importance of supporting cricket in Qatar and this is just a test for us to see whether cricket can be promoted in Qatar on a large scale. We have opened our facilities to the cricket community in Qatar,” Tariq Mahmoud manager of spectator services at the Qatar Sports Club, said.
The tickets for the final are priced at QR 10 and can be purchased from the Qatar Sports Club, Safari Mall, Family Food Center, Zaoq Restaurant or online at www.q-tickets.com website which entitles the ticket holder to watch the Qatar Sports Club vs Lekhwiya football game and the cricket match, which is to be held right after the football match, organisers said in a press release yesterday.
Special raffle draw will give the spectators a chance to win two Air Arabia return tickets to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh.
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