GUWAHATI, Feb 14 - Altogether 5700 players and 304 clubs from across the State will get the opportunity to show their talent in the Assam Premier Club Championship being organised by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) which will get underway tomorrow.
The trophy of the championship was unveiled amidst an elite cricketing fraternity here today.
The organisers will use 41 venues to conduct 600 matches in total in the inaugural edition of the championship. The tournament will start at the club level first in the districts and the top teams of the districts will qualify to play in the zonal stage which will be held in six zones. Top two teams each of the zonal tournament will lock horns in the super league to be held at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara here. A total amount of Rs 92 lakh is at stake as prize money. The champions and runners-up will walk away with cash award of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.
�It will be a great opportunity for the players to show their potential and the ACA will be able to enhance the bench strength of the State teams at various levels,� said ACA secretary Devajit Saikia while welcoming the gathering.
Noted cricketer Badal Thakur, State Minister Pallab Lochan Das, ACA president Romen Dutta, former minister and ACA president Gautam Roy, were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, former Assam Ranji captain Rajesh Bora said the present players should grab the opportunity and stake their claims to get into the State teams of different age groups along with Ranji Trophy. He hoped that this effort of ACA will pay dividends in the near future.
Gautam Roy, Pallab Lochan Das, Romen Dutta and former ACA secretary Bikash Baruah also expressed their views in favour of the upcoming championship.