Inter-media Cricket

Guwahati, March 13: Assam Tribune will play Dainik Batori in the lung opener of the 10th Guwahati Press Club Inter-media Cricket Tournament at Latasil ground here tomorrow.

In the second match of the day, Sentinel will meet Photo Journalists in the afternoon session. Altogether 16 teams will participate in the tournament. While 12 teams have been divided into four groups to play the leagues, last year’s semifinalist Asomiya Khabar, Janambhumi, Prag News and Edinor Sambad will play the group champions in the quarterfinals.

The semifinals will be played on March 22 and the final on March 23.

Guwahati Press Club secretary Naba Thakuria said there would be no provision for rescheduling of matches. In case of washed-out matches, it would be decided through bowl-out method applied in the ICC Twenty20 cricket format.

Unlike in the earlier editions, the organisers have abolished entry fee and prize money in the tournament.

Some the participating media houses named under-aged professional cricketers in their squads submitted to the organising body. This could rake up controversies like the last couple of editions. Hence the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has cautioned its registered players, especially the age group players, not to represent any media house as hired professionals.

“If any media house appoints a player as their regular employee following the rules and regulations and field them in the tournament without any objection of the organisers and opponent participants, we have nothing to say

However, if any of our registered players, be it from any of our affiliated district units, get themselves involved in any controversy related to the inter-media tournament, he will have to face disciplinary action from the ACA to the extent of suspension,” said the ACA secretary, Bikash Baruah.

The warning came in the wake of some of the under-aged players from Upper Assam districts named in a few teams. Referring to at least two players from Sivasagar district who have been being named in a team for the tournament, Baruah said: “According to our records, they are yet to be 18 years old below which no employer can appoint them into any job.”