KUWAIT CITY, Jan 3: TEC Challengers Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament conducted by Thrissur Engineering College Alumni Association (TECAL) will begin at KOC Cricket Grounds on January 5th. The eagerly awaited cricket tournament conducted for the members of the Kuwait Engineers Forum (KEF) marks the start of the Engineers’ Sports calendar in Kuwait for the season.

The tournament this year has been changed to a new model, featuring six sponsored clubs instead of the usually followed inter-alumni format. This change was made to ensure equal opportunities for participation to all KEF players. A total of 78 players were up for grabs in six clubs during the player auction conducted on 7th December 2023. Club Owners Black Panthers, High Range Blasters, Kerala Tuskers, Kuwait Super Kings, Orange Warriors, and White Elephants had prepared their preferred team combinations, and bidding budgets and played tactically to get the auctioneer’s gavel fall on their bid, declaring “SOLD”. The auction was a thrilling event drawing attention from players and cricket enthusiasts from KEF to discover which club acquired particular players and at what value. The six-team tournament will be conducted in a league cum knock-out, T10 format with 3 Clubs in each pool playing against clubs in the other pool during the league stage.

Pool A clubs; Kuwait Super Kings, High Range Blasters, and White Elephants will Play against Pool B Clubs; Black Panthers, Orange Warriors, and Kerala Tuskers. 7 league matches will be held on the 5th and the remaining 5 matches on the 12th of January. The teams’ line-up and inaugural function will be at 10:00 am after the first two matches. With the players and spectator interest on the rise, the new format promises cricket enthusiasts an action-packed weekend.

The top 4 teams after the league matches will qualify for the semifinal where the topper will clash with the 4th placed side and 2nd placed will clash with the club placed 3rd. With six evenly balanced clubs in the contest, it is expected to have very intense and closely-fought matches throughout the tournament. Coupled with the glorious uncertainties of the game, cricket buffs can look forward to some thrilling action scheduled to start on 5th January 2024.