KARACHI: For the first time in the history of Naya Nazimabad Ramazan T20 Cup, eight departmental outfits will compete in the 16-team competition, the prize-money of which has been increased by 100 per cent compared to last year.

Arif Habib, chairman of Arif Habib Group who heads also the board of directors of Naya Nazimabad, told a media conference here on Tuesday that the fourth edition of the floodlight tournament to be staged at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium from June 8 will see the champions of the July 5 receiving Rs1 million.

“The inclusion of eight departments [with six of them first-class sides] will definitely enhance the quality of cricket despite the fact that our top stars are not available because of national duty,” Arif said. “But given the popularity of this event, we have decided to double the prize money from last year. In 2015, the winners [Dollar East] took Rs500,000 but this year that amount will go the runners-up.”

The teams taking part have been divided into four pools of four. are NBP, Dollar East XI, Heroes CC and Atiq Estates form Group ‘A’; State Bank, PIA Colours, Eaton CC and Dawood Sports are in Group ‘B; Group ‘C’ consists of SSGC, SNGPL, Alamgir Gymkhana and Medicam while Group ‘D’ includes UBL, K-Electric, last year’s runners-up Omar CC and Qasmi Gymkhana.

The knockout stage of the event would be televised live on a private sports channel but with the Euro 2016 football championship, which is being played from June 10 until July 10 and also telecast live by the same channel, the organisers have rescheduled the timings of all quarter-finals with the first three slated to commence at 8:00pm and the last one at 11:30pm.

The semi-finals on July 3 and 4 and the July 5 final would start at 10:00pm.

On the opening day, holders Dollar East take on newcomers Atiq Estates at 11:00pm.

Arif, meanwhile, the facilities for sports at Naya Nazimabad will be bolstered by the addition of a hockey ground to the cricket and football arenas, while a club house is also been planned where indoor sports will be held.

“If everything goes well, the work on the hockey stadium and the club house would start after Ramazan. This will be a small contribution for the society because this city needs more facilities like them so that people may indulge themselves in recreational activities with a peaceful environment,” he remarked. “In the years to come, Naya Nazimabad would be known for its sporting activities as well as the housing schemes.”

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2016