Doha: Karnataka Sangha Qatar a frontline ICC affiliated Organization kicked off its 6th Annual Soft Ball Flood lit Cricket Tournament on 14th April Evening 7.00PM at the Old Indian Ideal School ground.
Capt. Ravi Kumar, defense attache, Embassy of India was the chief guest of the evening. Shk. Jassim Bin Soud Bin Fahad Al Thani, Jaralla Mohammed Al Marri and Yousuf Hashim were the guests of honour for the evening. Arvind Patil, president, ICBF was a special invitee for the inaugural of the tournament. Dignitaries were escorted by the KSQ vice president Nagesh Rao and former president Arun Kumar to the stage in a colorful procession with a Srilankan Band, Karnataka Folk Tamtte, Horse Ride, Camel and Cheer girls. ICC secretary Divakar Poojary, Main sponsor of the evening V S Mannangi, general manager of Almuftah, event sponsor Ghazi of ALMA, Satish of Qatar Design Consortium, and Dr Sanjay Kudari, chief coordinator of KSQ cricket tournament were present on the dais.
Nagesh Rao delivered the welcome address, and the cheer girls entertained the audience with their outstanding performance choreographed by Akshatha Hegde.
The teams took oath under the guidance of Tufail Mateen and Dr.Sanjay Kudri. Later on the Chief guest and guests of honor released air Balloons as a symbol of the official Inauguration of the tournament. KSQ general secretary Mahesh Gowda proposed a vote of thanks.
Tulu Koota Qatar president Ravi Shetty, president of KMCA Niyaz Ahmed, Bunts Qatar president Prakashchandra Ajila, Ramchandra Shetty, Seethram Shetty former president of Tulu Koota, Prakash Rao, Abdul Majeed SKMWA president Abdula Monu VP of Tulu Koota, former President Of KSQ, K Prabhakar and executive committee members and dignitaries were present the occasion.
In the first match of the day, Almuftah Team dueled the M Pallonji Team. Winning the toss Almuftah elected to field first, and M Pallonji scored 103 with loss of 7 wickets, but Almuftah team failed to score within the allotted 12 overs.
The second Match of the day was between the Centurian and Karnataka Bulls teams. Centurian won the toss and elected to field first. Karnataka Bulls scored 39 Runs and Centurion won the match with no loss of wickets.
More than 400 spectators were present and the audience had a chance to participate in the proceedings through a lucky draw.
Umpires for the tournament are Furqan, Hameed, and Hassan and Yonus. The scorers include Amjad, Prakash, Sunil and Anand Balu, while the spectactators will be kept abreast of the proceedings with commentary by Aejaz, Imtiyaz, Murthy and Surendar.
The tournament will continue until the 22nd April and will be conclude with the final slated for 23rd April. The final and the valedictory will be graced by former Indian stumper, Kiran More.
