12-Sep-2008 116
Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) and Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) have clinched a sponsorship deal to give domestic tournaments a face-lift and state teams for BCCI-run tournaments a dress-lift for the year 2008-09.
VAL would spend around Rs 30 lakh to honour the deal. This was announced at a joint media conference hosted by the concerned parties at Barabati Stadium Cuttack today.
According to the deal, VAL will be the title sponsor of the Kalahandi Cup Senior Inter-District Cricket Tournament, scheduled to commence simultaneously at four places — Keonjhar, Karanjia, Kendrapara and Cuttack — on September 15.
Renamed as Vedanta Kalahandi Cup, the tournament, which serves as the basis for selection of the state Ranji side, would be participated by 36 teams.
``The final match will be played for the first time under lights at Barabati Stadium on September 24. The winners will be receiving a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the runners-up will be richer by Rs 50,000. The man of the tournament will be rewarded a motorcycle. Man of the final match will also get an attractive gift,`` announced OCA president and National selector Ranjib Biswal.
``The sponsorship would also cover inter-district women``s tournament (Sept 20 to 26) and the final match of the inter-district under-19 tournament (Sept 14). Besides, VAL would provide full clothing kit to players, support staff and officials of the state Ranji Trophy, under-22, under-19, under-16, women``s senior and junior teams,`` VAL Vice-president A K Samal said.
He also stated that the corporate house earlier encouraded sportspersons of the state by giving them employment and financial assistant for participation in international competitions.
``VAL is also taking steps to supports other games by developing infrastructure facility and opening up more employment opportunities,`` added Samal.
OCA secretary Asirbad Behera announced that from next year, all the inter-district tournaments would be conducted in the winter — from December to February. ``From next year, matches in Kalahandi Cup would be two-day (90 overs) affair, instead of the traditional one-day variety,`` he added.
Teams in Vedanta Kalahandi Cup tournament have been divided into 12 groups and all group winners would advance to the super league. The top four finishers of the super league would be eligible for semifinals.
