Defending champions Danube have been drawn in Group F of the ICC Academy Ramadan Indoor Cricket Tournament, which will be starting at Dubai Sports City on July 12.
Danube is joined in the group by DBMSC Steel-2, Air Arabia and Lal’s Group. The building material’s company defeated DBMSC Steel in last year’s final, but they have included a second team this year.
DBMSC Steel-1 have been drawn in Group E with Reyami Rangers, Rowdy Cricketers and RSA Logistics.
There are six groups of four in the tournament, but each team will need to be on top of their game as only one team qualifies from each group for the Super Six stage, and the top four will then play in two semi-finals before the final on July 30.
Group A involves Hoermann, Oxford Marine, National Bank of Fujairah and Bank of Baroda. Group B will see Trisl Properties, Landmark Group, Dubai Lions and NA 250 battle it out for the top spot. Group C has Radio 4, Carfare Group, Crystal Gallery and Sport360°, while Just Mur It, DNA Health, Emirates Money and DSC Lions have been drawn in Group D.
The games will be 8-a-side with 12 overs per inning. The two sides that make it to the final will play 10 matches in all with the winners collecting Dh6,000, while the runners-up will take away Dh2,000 for their efforts.
The event follows on from the success of the inaugural Midnight League, also won by Danube, who beat Oxford Marine last month.
There will be public viewing galleries from up high, but you will also be able to watch the games down at pitch-side. The total area of the playing surface is 1,000 square metres.
A high net marks the boundary and the number of runs scored off each ball is dictated by how the ball strikes the net. If it bounces before it hits the net, then four runs are scored.
However, if it strikes the net without any bounce, then a six is scored. At least one single must be run for the boundary to qualify.
ICC Academy head coach Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan all-rounder, said: “The quality of indoor cricket we have already seen this summer during the Midnight League has been superb and there is no reason to believe the Ramadan tournament will be any different.
“What will be different are the demands on the players as the short, sharp event compressed into a short time-frame will test their stamina and fitness as well as the quality of their play.”
THE GROUPS
Group A
Hoermann
Oxford Marine
National Bank of Fujairah
Bank of Baroda
Group B
Trisl Properties
NA 250
Landmark Group
Dubai Lions
Group C
Radio 4
Carfare Group
Crystal Gallery
Sport360
Group D
Just Mur It
DNA Health
Emirates Money
DSC Lions
Group E
Reyami Rangers
Rowdy Cricketers
RSA Logistics
DBMSC Steel 1
Group F
DBMSC Steel 2
Danube
Air Arabia
Lal’s Group
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