Cricket: Middle East takes on Pakistan in MPL T20 curtain raiser

Middle East will take on Pakistan in the curtain raiser of the second Memon Premier League (MPL) Twenty20 Cricket Championship, at the SSC ground in Colombo on Monday (24).   Pakistan, the defending champions of the MPL T20 Championship, will be keen to record a win in their campaign to defend their title starting off at 9.00 in the morning.   Later on the day, at 1.15pm, losing finalist of the inaugural MPL T20, India is set to meet Africa.   India too will be keen to move on in the competition with a good record and claim the title they missed at the last occasion.   On Tuesday (25) Pakistan will meet Europe at 9.00am at the R. Premadasa Stadium followed by the game between Far East and Africa at 1.15pm at the same venue.   On Wednesday (26) R. Premadasa Stadium will host two games, the final couple of the group stage.   The first game will be between Far East and India at 9.00am followed by the game between Europe and Middle East at 1.15pm.   The tournament features six chapters of the World Memon Organisation (WMO) – with India, Africa and Far East, where Sri Lanka is featured, from Group ‘A’ and Pakistan, Middle East and Europe from Group ‘B’.   The two teams to top each group will meet in the first qualifier on Friday (28) at 9.00am at the R. Premadasa Stadium where the winner will walk straight into the final of the competition.   This game will be followed by the eliminator between group runners-up at 2.15pm.   The losing team of the first qualifier and the winner of the eliminator will vie for the remaining berth in the final next Saturday (29) at 9.00am at the R. Premadasa Stadium.   The final will be held next Sunday (30) at 1.15pm.   The WMO moved on with this competition after a successful inaugural MPL T20 which was held in 2013 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.   The Far East Chapter of the WMO, mostly comprised by Sri Lankans are the hosts of the second edition of this cricket championship.   The tournament will be played in accordance to international rules covering Twenty20 cricket set by the ICC.   The matches will be officiated by an internationally recognized panel of umpires and officials, comprising of Ranmore Martinez, Asoka de Silva, Lyndon Hannibal and top premier cricket umpires of SLC.   All six teams will be trying to get their hands on the WMO President’s Challenge Trophy, which was carried away by Pakistan after beating India in the final in 2013.   Every game will have a man of the match award, in addition to the best bowler, best batsman and most valuable player awards for the tournament.