The 16th edition of the only inter-hotel cricket championship in the State of Qatar, Premier Cricket League 2019, began recently.
Hosted by Wyndham Grand Regency Doha for the fifth time, the event is expected to attract some of the most talented players from across Qatar’s hotel industry. Twenty teams will field their best over four weeks to take home the prestigious PCL Qatar Trophy.
The limited-overs tournament will see the teams divided in four groups. Knockout stages will follow, starting with the quarter-finals. The eight quarter-finalists are Torch, Kempinski, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, Mondrian, Wyndham Grand, Diplomatic Club, Sheraton Grand and Hilton.
Tournament draws were conducted in the presence of the representatives from all the participating team. The organising committee includes designated chairman John Lobo, tournament director Chander Raina, Ashwin Shetty, who handles operations and hospitality, and Mohamed Razi, who managed venue operations.
The opening ceremony was attended by around 600 players and spectators at the QCA Grounds in Lusail, while the league matches are played every Saturday until the final on March 9, at Asian Town International Cricket Stadium. Simaisma-A Murwab Resort emerged as the best dressed squad at the opening ceremony and won the Best Uniform Award.
This year, the tournament is sponsored by Vodafone Qatar (exclusive Telecom Partner), Jumbo Electronics, Hospitality Solution Group, Shahd Real Estate, Clover Qatar, Telangana Gold and Aljabor Business Systems, while the organisers have also tied up with Radio Olive and Radio Suno.
Captains of all the teams participating in the tournament pose with the PCL 2019 Trophy.
