In five years’ time, it would all be a “twenty-twenty affair.” And having said that, Kashmir Singh, Inspector General of Police (IG) and president of UP Twenty-20 Cricket Association (UPTCA), smiles. For those, who are wondering what this is all about, here’s a recap.
‘Payjama cricket’ (the regular one-dayers) was born when spectators started disappearing from venues when cricket started ‘test-ing’ their patience. The one-dayers made technique became secondary and it was excitement that mattered. Cash registers started ringing as audiences returned in droves. But time being a constraint, the 50-50 format too, started losing its flavour.
Welcome Twenty-20! The advantage: Unlike regular one-dayers here was wholesome entertainment in three hours flat. Though, purists and old-timers having grown up watching Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott or, for that Haneef Mohammad, carrying their bat through the innings, cried foul, the International Cricket Council (ICC) still decided to go ahead with the Twenty-20move.
That’s probably because, ICC realised that even as the Gavaskars delighted the purists, instant cricket delighted the masses. The Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) opposed the move but, the international community voted against the BCCI 10:1!
And, as soon as the world’s richest cricket board (Did someone ask how did they become so rich? Well, 50:50!) fell in line, decks were cleared for the first official Twenty-20 World Cup to be played in South Africa in September 2007. To promote Twenty-20 in India, Indian Twenty-Twenty Cricket Federation (ITCF) was formed three years back and is working on a fast pace with three national championships having been organised already. In UP too, efforts are on to make Twenty-20 a popular affair.
{{/usCountry}}And, as soon as the world’s richest cricket board (Did someone ask how did they become so rich? Well, 50:50!) fell in line, decks were cleared for the first official Twenty-20 World Cup to be played in South Africa in September 2007. To promote Twenty-20 in India, Indian Twenty-Twenty Cricket Federation (ITCF) was formed three years back and is working on a fast pace with three national championships having been organised already. In UP too, efforts are on to make Twenty-20 a popular affair.
{{/usCountry}}Already, Singh has started working towards this goal. As the UPTCA president, Singh was instrumental in getting 16 district units affiliated to UPTCA and organising a number of Twenty-20 tournaments.
Along with Singh, UPTCA secretary Tarvinder Singh, Vice-president Obaid Kamal (former Ranji player present UP Ranji selector) and Chairman Mohd Arshad too, have been involved in making ‘power cricket’ (some call it masala cricket!) popular across the state. Their joy knew no bounds when the first Nafisa Memorial inter-state tournament got a huge response in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh participated in the Chandigarh National U-19 Twenty-20 in which 24 states took part. Now, buoyed by their success, UPTCA is planning to hold Twenty-20 national cricket tournaments at the under-17 and under-15 level.
“To add novelty, we have also started a Twenty-20 over cricket in which each team plays two innings of 20 overs each.The first such tournament is presently going on at the NR Stadium in Lucknow,” says Obaid Kamal, vice-president UPTCA. Kamal, like Singh, is all for the Twenty-20 move. “We would soon introduce the Twenty-20 Freedom Fighter Trophy in schools,” he says.
Kamal said, “We have been working very hard in this direction. Getting the 16 district units affiliated to UPTCA was a big achievement and a very satisfying one too. We toured the entire state for the purpose.”
Sports corner
Rulebook
1. The game is played for 20 overs each.
2. The ‘circle rule’ will be of 10 overs I.e. first 5 overs and last 5 overs.
3. In the ‘circle overs’ only 2 fielders are allowed outside the ‘Ring’ and inside the ‘Ring’ 2 fielders are required to be in the ‘catching position’.
4. After completion of ‘Circle Overs’ a maximum of five fielders are allowed outside the ‘Ring’ and there will be no restriction on ‘Catching Position’.
5. The time limit for the team bowling first is 80 minutes to complete 20 overs.
If the team bowling first does not complete the 20 overs within stipulated period then the team bowling first will have to bowl full quota of 20 overs but at the time of batting, they will play only the number of overs they have bowled in the stipulated period of 80 minutes.
6. No bowler shall bowl more than 4 overs each in an innings.
7. One bouncer per over is allowed.
8. In case of a tie, the team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the result shall be a TIE irrespective of the number of wickets which have fallen.