KARACHI, Feb 20: A total of 13 teams will represent 11 cities in the second edition of Twenty20 Cup cricket tournament, which gets under way in Karachi from Friday (Feb 24).

The championship, which will be simultaneously played at the National Stadium Karachi (NSK), the UBL Sports Complex and the NBP Sports Complex, will conclude on March 4 with the final under lights at the NSK.

Apart from staging 14 leagues games under lights, NSK, the premier cricket stadium of the country, will also hold both the semifinals and the final.

The participating teams have been drawn in two pools.

Defending champions Faisalabad Wolves, Peshawar Panthers, Karachi Zebras, Lahore Eagles, Sialkot Stallions, Rawalpindi Rams and Multan Tigers are in Pool ‘A’.

Last year’s runners-up Karachi Dolphins is grouped in Pool ‘B’ with Lahore Lions, Hyderabad Hawks, Quetta Bears and two newcomers, Islamabad Leopards and Abbottabad Rhinos.

Top two teams from each pool will progress to the semifinals.

Except for a few, all leading stars of the country will be seen in action in this popular brand of cricket.

The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Lahore which attracted huge crowds.

A massive purse of Rs3 million will be on offer in the competition.

The winners will pick up a hefty Rs600,000, the runners-up Rs300,000.

The Man-of-the-Final, best batsman, best bowler, best wicket-keeper and best fielder will be awarded Rs20,000 each.

Prize money will also be awarded in each of the 36 preliminary round matches. Team winning every league game will be pocketed Rs12,000 and even loser will collect Rs8000 and the Man-of-the-Match Rs5000.

Batsmen will get Rs1000 for hitting every six and bowler will collect the same amount for grabbing a wicket each.

Led by Naved Latif, Faisalabad Wolves won the first-ever Twenty20 Cup when they beat Moin Khan’s Karachi Dolphins in enthralling final by two wickets at Lahore’s Qadhafi Stadium.—APP