Last year’s title holders Pakistan defended the title
with a 44-run victory over the Indian team
One of the star attractions of the associated activities for the Qatar National Day celebrations, the six-nation cricket tournament drew massive crowds of expatriates at the West End Park in the afternoon on Thursday. Last year’s title holders Pakistan defended the title with a 44-run victory over the Indian team. Chasing a target of 191 set by Pakistan, India were restricted to 146 in their stipulated 15 overs.
As in the previous year the cricket festival was watched by a full house at a stadium having a 11,000-plus seating capacity.
While India defeated Bangladesh by 44 runs in the second semi-finals, Pakistan, who were directly seeded to the last four were an easy winner against hosts Qatar by more than 50 runs.
Nepal and Sri Lanka were the other teams of the tournament.
The tourney began with the playing of the Qatar National Anthem and a march past featuring the teams, carrying the National Flag of Qatar.
Chief guest of the day, and former Pakistani captain Zaheer Abbas remained at the stadium throughout the day to watch the tournament.
Abbas and Ministry of Interior’s Public Relations Director Col Abdulla al-Muftah gave away the awards to the teams.
Abbas, who arrived at the stadium at the start early in the morning, accompanied by the main organiser of the tournament Azeem Abbas, was given a thunderous applause by the crowd which kept on increasing until the final was played late in the evening under the floodlights. While lauding the organisers and participants at the tournament, Abbas who was specially flown in for the tournament from Pakistan, also told the residents to make use of the facility at the venue to develop cricketing activities in the country further.
The event’s organisers succeeded in producing an IPL-like environment at the stadium, with professional DJs being deployed to entertain the crowds.
Many favourite musical numbers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangaldesh besides songs popular among the Qataris were played at the stadium.
A large number of awards from a raffle draw were given to the spectators. Mobile phones, television sets, air tickets, and gift vouchers were given.
While winners Pakistan got a cash award of QR7,000, India received QR4,000. Qatar team which came third won QR3,000 and the other three teams, namely Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal received QR2,000 each.
Results
(Qatar finals): India 129 runs in 15 overs beat Nepal 79 all out in 12 .3 overs.
Qatar beat Sri Lanka.
Semi-finals: India 128 beat Bangladesh 85 all out.
Pakistan beat Qatar.
Final: Pakistan 190-15 overs beat India 146 in 15 overs
