JEDDAH — Unbeaten Shareef Khan emerged champion and lifted the Al-Kabeer Trophy, underlining its supremacy in the final of the first Al-Kabeer-IISJAA Cricket Tournament here recently. The shining star of Shareef Khan, Nazeer Farouqi, lit up the final by hammering 33 runs and claiming 4 wickets. The unbeaten champion team crushed MKP by 9 wickets with 26 balls to spare. After exciting group stage matches, Alumni Riders, Challengers, MKP and Shareef Khan advanced to the semifinals where Shareef Khan defeated Alumni Riders and MKP defeated Challengers to advance to the final. MKP's key players Atif, Huzaifa, strike bowler Talha Khan and skipper Adnan could not stop the unbeaten run of champion in the final. MKP batted after winning the toss and lost early wickets to post the lowest score of the tournament, 95 in 12 overs. In reply, Shareef Khan ran over its rival by the loss of just one wicket. In the match between semifinal losers for third place, Challengers lost to Alumni Riders whose Tousif exploded with 5 sixes in a single over. Alumni Riders chose to field and restricted Challengers to 118 in 12 overs. In reply, Riders reached the target for the loss of 5 wickets on the first ball of the 9th over. In the process, Tousif recorded the fastest half-century of the tournament in 14 balls. The prize distribution ceremony was graced by guests from sponsor Al-Kabeer, Abdul Latif Sheikh, marketing manager; and Mansoor Khan, Western Region manager; C.P. Joy, headmaster, IISJ; K.O. Paulson, sports editor, Saudi Gazette; and Ghouse Mohiuddin, physical education instructor, IISJ. IISJAA president Asim Zeeshan thanked sponsors, teams, players and specially volunteers Abu Liya, Abdul Mannan, Khalid Bayazid, Mehraj, Minhaj, and Usman for their great service in organizing the tournament. A memento was presented to the executives of Al-Kabeer as a token of appreciation from IISJAA. Mir Asgar Ali, Mir Murtuza Ali and Syed Hyder presented the medals and certificates to the volunteers of the tournament. The ceremony was compered by Nawaf Yousuf. Man of the Final Nazeer Farouqi of Shareef Khan, former IISJ player and a member of Saudi cricket team, won the major awards, bagging Best Batsman and Best All-Rounder (297 runs and 10 wickets) honors. Best Bowler award went to Talha Khan of MKP for taking 10 wickets, which included a 5-wicket haul and a hat trick. The Best Wicketkeeper award was claimed by Olyan Basit of Expendables (8 dismissals in 3 games). All awardees received gift hampers from Al-Kabeer and trophies. Apart from IISJAA executive committee, Nawaf, Nabeel and Amjad were instrumental in making the event a big success. — SG
