Al-Max and Center Point teams, which played the opening match, pose with chief guest Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Mohammed Mansour, Mohammed Rafeeq, Roshan Rodrigues and Niaz Ahmed.
JEDDAH — The Karnataka Noble Trophy (KNT) Cricket Tournament 2014 with the slogan “Cricket or Noble Cause”, jointly organized by Karnataka NRI Forum and Jamiyyatul Falah Jeddah, got off to a colorful start at the Sharbatli Ground, Baghdadiya, here recently.
The tennis ball limited over knockout tournament, participated by 16 teams from Jeddah, was inaugurated by chief guest Aijaz Ahmed Khan, vice president, Jeddah Cricket Association.
President of the Karnataka NRI Forum Jeddah, Roshan Rodrigues, welcomed the guests, sponsors, well-wishers, participating teams, cricket fans and the organizing committee members.
Managing committee team leader Mohammed Mansoor introduced both the organizations as top NGOs of Karnataka striving to help poor and needy persons back home in India and in KSA. He also highlighted the activities and objectives of both the organizations.
According to Vice President of Jamiyyatul Falah Jeddah Mohammed Rafeeq this is the first occasion where two organizations of Karnataka are working together for the noble cause and wished good luck to all the participating teams.
KNT managing committee thanked sponsors Al-Saeed Group of Industries, Center Point, NATCO Saudi Arabia, Intermodal Services of SA, Binzagar, Pepsi Saudi Arabia, iMas, Golden Travel, RF Developers, Teamwork International Freight Est, AWS Movers, SSQ Company, Bariz Global Co, Master Trading Contracting & Rental Services, Budget Rent a Car, ESG & Partners Co, Village Restaurant, Mehfil Restaurant, Hakkami Comupters, C Systems, Comaco, Rabia Tea, Salman Group Al-Raja Press, Super Max, Hashir Trading, Ayon Est, M A Alawi Est, Al-Salam Alami Est and well wishers.
Results:
First round: Al-Max bt Center Point by 7 wickets; Rising Star bt JICC; Challengers bt Abiyon Jeddah by 5 wickets; Basem International bt IOE Jeddah by 5 wickets; Target Guys bt Jeddah Scorpio by 5 runs; ISF Karnataka bt MSC Shipping by 112 runs; Dazzel Super King bt Jeddah Scorpio by 39 runs and ATS bt Deccan Knights by 48 runs.
ISF Karnataka set a new record by hoisting 186-3 in an eight-over match with an amazing batting performance by Amir, who whacked 90 with 13 sixes and 2 boundaries.
The quarterfinal line-up for Thursday (from 8 p.m.): Al-Max vs. Challengers; Rising Star vs. Basem International; Target Guys vs. Dazzel Super King and ISF Karnataka vs. ATS.
The semifinals and the final will be played Friday from 2 p.m.
During the opening ceremony, Shaikh Saoud recited verses from Holy Qur'an, while Niaz Ahmed anchored the program. Syed Nasir Khursheed proposed the vote of thanks and appreciated the excellent teamwork of Shaikh Saoud, Sabu Chandran, Arshad Hussain, Nawaz Sharief, Harsha, Yeshwant, Mohammed Saheb, Imtiaz Ahmed, Rajesh Kumar, Atish Ahmed, Fahim, Ashfaq and Farooq who played a major role in organizing this tournament and preparing the ground and the pitch. Habeeb Rahman was the match referee and the umpires were Arshad, Sharief, Nawaz and Haseeb. The giant scoreboard was controlled by Shaikh Saoud, Samir Kazi, Iqbal Mirza and Ansar Shaikh. The running commentary of the matches were given by MMM Naushad, Shaikh Saoud, Abdul Khader and Saif. — SG
