The 25th Kanoo Premier League glittering prize distribution function was held at La Sani Restaurant where Chief Guest Sheikh Ahmed Fawzi Kanoo presented awards to Winner Al Burj, Runner-up Saudi Oil and performance awards to the top performing players. Winners Al Burj chased a target of 192 for 4 wickets in 16.3 overs to beat Saudi Oil by 6 wickets in the final with Bilal Ahmed as man of the final for his unbeaten 68 runs. At the event Ahmed Kanoo informed the august gathering that Kanoo Group has always been at the forefront of sporting activities in general and cricket in particular as it is the Groups' policy to encourage and boost the morale of sportsman whether they belong to the community in general or its employees. Ahmed Kanoo thanked JCA for giving them an opportunity to sponsor Premier League for last 25 years and assured them of the Group's continued support in future in a bigger and better way, not only by sponsoring Kanoo Premier League but also Kanoo cricket team. He stressed that the colorful function of the evening was exemplary of JCA's ability to organize such events besides its abilities to promote and develop cricket in KSA and also a proof of the hard work and dedication of its executive committee. JCA Chairman Dr. Faiz Al Abideen thanked Kanoo management particularly Sheikh Khalid Kanoo and Ahmed Kanoo for their passion in supporting Premier League for the past 25 years and hoped that coming year onward Kanoo would continue their support in a bigger and different way. He congratulated the winnersAl Burj and runner-up Saudi Oil and wished all participating teams better luck in future league matches. JCA President Aijaz Khan had word of praise for entire Kanoo management from Khalid Kanoo, Saud Kanoo, Ali Kanoo and presently Ahmed Kanoo for their commitment and belief in passing down the mantle of encouraging cricketing activities year after year for the past 25 years. He requested Ahmed Kanoo to sponsor Kanoo cricket team, in future, like they had done in the past and both sponsored teams had won many a titles for Kanoo. Earlier at the start of the function. A. A. Merchant, a former Kanoo employee for 31 years (1982 to 2013), briefed the audience on the Kanoo organization activities and its cricketing association with earlier JCL and now JCA. It was the vision of Sheikh Khalid Kanoo – Group Chairman of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo conglomerate who, in 1989-90 first sponsored Kanoo cricket team in Jeddah as the Group's commitment, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities. His keen interest in cricket was the thrust behind initially sponsoring one team — Kanoo and then Kanoo Travel. Due to the support and encouragement it received, both Kanoo teams have won laurels with over 60 Cup Titles in the last 25 years, which by any standards is an excellent achievement, all these have lined up the show-cases in Group's offices in Jeddah, Bahrain and other areas. Kanoo Group then went on to sponsor Kanoo Premier League from 1990-91 till 2011-12 and again from 2015-16 to present (2018-19). Besides Western Province, the Group also started sponsoring, Eastern and Central Province of KSA, Bahrain and Dubai. Later in 1990's Kanoo Group started organizing Kanoo Inter Division Leagues for all its division, which continues to date. Khalid Kanoo also sponsored visit of Kanoo team, twice, to play matches against clubs in Bahrain. Ahmed Kanoo then presented awards of the 25th Kanoo Premier League. Winner Al Burj; Runner-up Saudi Oil; Best Batsman Bilal Ahmed of Al Burj (452 runs); Best Bowler Adnan of KAIA (22 wickets); Player of the tournament Atta Muskan of Al Burj (343 runs and 11 wickets); Man of the Final Bilal Ahmed of Al Burj (68 Not Out). Service awards to Umpires Zainul Huda, Ashraf Ranjha, Tauseef Gujjar, Zahid Khan, Syed Vahid and Mahmood Hussain and to scorers Shakeel Razak and Arshad Noor. The ceremony concluded with JCA Chairman Dr. Faiz Al Abideen presenting a plaque to Sheikh Ahmed Kanoo and another in honor of Sheikh Khalid Kanoo. — SG
