Monday, January 26, 2009

4th Airtel Media Cup begins


Patna, January 24

The annual cricket festival for Patna media men popularly known as Airtel Media Cup cricket tournament rolled into its fourth edition at the Moinul Haq Stadium here on Saturday with much fanfare and an exhibition Twnety20 cricket match between organizers Sports Journalists Association of Bihar (SJAB) and Airtel XI.

Sixteen media teams have been participating in the tournament. They are Hindustan Times Media Limited, Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Aj, Prabhat Khabar, Rashtriya Sahara, Times of India, All India Radio (Patna), DDK (Patna), Agency XI, Channel XI, PTN-Sanmarg, Quami Tanzeem, ETV, Radio Mirchi and Photo Journalists XI.

An energetic and youthful Airtel XI had no difficulty to beat Sports SJAB XI by seven wickets in the slow and turning track. Airtel spinner Vijyanand Jha did the trick with his spinning deliveries claiming four wickets for nine runs only.

SJAB skipper Abhijit Biswas won a good toss and decided to bat first. But SJAB batted poorly and could muster only 115 for nine wickets off 20 overs. Alok Chturvedi top scored with 34 runs. He hit four boundaries in his knock. Mr Extra was the second best scorer and contributed 25 runs. Skipper Biswas (17) and Ramesh Kumar (11) remained unbeaten. For Airtel XI Keshav Mishra also took four wickets 20 runs.

In reply, Airtel XI reached the target off 18.3 overs losing three wickets. Dashing opening bat Kanahiya scored 41 runs. His knock was studded with three fours and one six. Sarvada (34 not out, 3x4) and Siddhartha (16) were other notable contributors. Dilip Mishra claimed two wickets for 25 runs. Nitosh took one wicket.
Earlier in gala opening function, Vivek Kumar Singh, secretary, Art, Culture and Youth Affairs inaugurated the championship releasing balloons and playing a few shots against the bowling of Airtel (Bihar and Jharkhand), CEO Shishir Kumar. Vivek Singh also bowled a few deliveries.
Mirtunjay Tiwari, president, Bihar Players Association and former India under-19 cricket team skipper Amikar Dayal were present at opening function as special guests.
The function began with Pradeep Modak, secretary, SJAB, welcoming the guests. Deepak Pandey, president, SJAB presided over the function. Vivek Singh, Shishir Kumar, Mritunjay Tiwari and Amikar Dayal lauded the joint efforts of Airtel and SJAB for providing an interactive platform for media men of Bihar.

At the end of the match Shishir Kumar distributed the prizes. Several sports administrators and officials of Airtel were present at opening function. Adhikari MM Prasad, vice-president, SJAB, Shailendra Kumar (office secretary, SJAB), Ajay Narayan Sharma, secretary, Bihar Cricket Association, Rakesh Ranjan of All Bihar Chess Association, Mohan Verma, Siddhartha Verma, Devashish Satpaty, Anind Fouzdar (all senior officers of Airtel), Niraj Kumar Pappu (Throwball Association of Bihar), Dr Sunil Kumar Singh, Vijay Narain Chunnu (CEO, VP Sinha Foundation) and former secretary of All Bihar Chess Association, AR Khan graced the inaugural function. Arun Kumar, a senior journalist of Hindustan Times and Shishir Kumar, Airtel CEO, delighted the crowd with lovely running commentary.
Meanwhile, Radio Mirchi would take on DDK (Patna) in the first match of the fourth Airtel Media Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament to be played at the Moinul Haq Stadium here on January 27, said Pradeep Modak, secretary, Sports Journalists Association of Bihar (SJAB).

In the second match on the same day, Rashtriya Sahara will take on All India Radio (AIR), Patna. The first match will start from 8:30 am while the second match will begin from 12 noon. The matches will be played on ICC Twenty20 format.
Other fixtures: January 28: Sanmarg vs News Agencies XI, Times of India vs Dainik Jagran. January 29: Quami Tanzeem vs Prabhat Khabar, Photo Journalists XI vs Hindustan Times. January 30: Channels XI vs ETV, Bihar, Hindustan vs Aj. January 31: Rashtriya Sahara vs Radio Mirchi, AIR, Patna vs DD, Patna. February 1: Sanmarg vs Times of India, News Agencies XI vs Dainik Jagran. February 2: Quami Tanzeem vs Photo Journalists XI, Prabhat Khabar vs Hindustan Times. February 3: Channels XI vs Hindustan, ETV, Bihar vs Aj. February 4: Rashtriya Sahara vs DD, Patna, Radio Mirchi vs AIR, Patna. February 5: Sanmarg vs Dainik Jagran, Times of India vs News Agencies XI. February 6: Quami Tanzeem vs Hindustan Times, Photo Journalists XI vs Prabhat Khabar. February 7: Channels XI vs Aj, Hindustan vs ETV, Bihar.
Photo caption: Airtel XI and SJAB XI pose for a group photograph with Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department (Government of Bihar) seceretary, Vivek Singh, Airtel CEO (Bihar and Jharkhand) Shishir Kumar, Bihar Players Association president, Mritunjay Tiwari and former Indian youth team captain Amikar Dayal during opening function of the 4th Airtel Media Cup cricket in Patna on Saturday.

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