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Inter-Gulf cricket at Dubai

Dubai is all set to become a venue for international cricket.

The city of gold will stage the first Inter-Gulf cricket tournament, from January 23 to 28, which will see six countries in action.

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Vikram Kaul, honorary secretary of the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC), said: ''Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the Gulf countries which have agreed to compete in this tournament, approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).''

Dubai will be the third venue in the UAE to host an international cricket meet after Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. An international cricket tournament was held in Abu Dhabi last week in which India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated.

In the Inter-Gulf tournament, the participants have been placed in two groups of three teams each. UAE will start their campaign on the opening day with a contest against Kuwait.

The top teams from each group will compete in the semi-finals and the final will be played on January 28.

The winner of the tournament will receive 7,500 dirhams (about Rs 90,000) while the runner-up will get 3,500 dirhams (about Rs 40,000). There are also individual prizes for player of the tournament, best batsman and best bowler. The teams reaching the semi-final will get 1,000 dirhams (about Rs 12,000).

Hayat Yar Khan, convenor of the Dubai organising committee, said a player will be qualified to participate in the tournament if he has resided in the country he represents for at least 240 days in each of the five years preceding the closing date for the tournament.

As per the rules, each team will be able to field six expatriates and five locals.

UNI