MUSCAT, JAN 28
Muscat Tennis Cricket League (MTCL) has joined hands with Braveheart to host MTCL Premier League Tournament Season 1 which will be held at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat on February 21 and 22, under the auspices of Hamoud al Wahaibi, associate partner of the event.
The Muscat Tennis Cricket Premier League Tournament (MTCL) Season 1, is touted to be one of its kind for the cricket lovers and is aimed to creating new history in Muscat’s tennis ball cricket.
The tournament, which offers the highest prize money in Oman, will also feature top tennis ball cricketers from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and others as guest stars.
The winners will be given a cash prize of RO 2,000, while the runner-ups will receive RO 1,000 and the third and fourth place teams will receive 250 rials each. In addition, players will also receive cash prizes for individual achievements.
As many as 24 leading teams in Oman are expected to compete in the tournament. Each team can field two foreign players as guest players. The player auction, modelled after the IPL, was held a few days ago in Muscat in the presence of three prominent figures in the Indian cricket player auction scene.
Many teams have acquired top players through an exciting auction from the registered players. In this tournament, Taimur Mirza, who is called the king of Pakistani tennis ball cricket, will come out to show his magic with the bat on the soil of Muscat.
In addition to this, many players from India, including Thomas Dias, who is also the brand ambassador of T10 cricket in Dubai, will add to the star power of the tournament. In addition to the umpires, team officials, scorers, curators and observers who have experience in officiating international matches, there will also be an online live telecast of the tournament.
The current office-bearers of Oman Cricket have made great efforts to establish cricket in a land where only football reigns. Inspired by the high-level support to tennis ball cricket in Oman, the MTCL officials also have come on this path years ago.
Currently, about 300 teams are participating in the three ongoing leagues. MTCL is active in many parts of Oman, including Salalah, with tournaments.
Speaking to the Observer during a press conference at the Cumin Catering Hall, the organisers said that it is expected that Oman would be recorded in international tennis ball cricket when this tournament is completed.
They added that, here forth, there is a plan to form an Oman international tennis ball cricket team, organise the Gulf Cup, Asia Cup, and later the Tennis Ball Cricket World Cup by incorporating international tennis ball cricket teams from other countries.
"When we submitted this plan to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, we received great support and we are currently trying to find a place for it. The group members are moving forward with unity, mutual help and support," Shaheer KC, Founder and Chairman, said.
Santhosh Braveheart, Title Sponsor, Liju Memana, Secretary, Anuraj Rajan and Muhammed Rafi along with the other organising officials were present at the press conference.
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