(MENAFN - Gulf Times) Q-Con Qatar defeated Seashore by eight wickets to win the Qatar Cricket Association organised Workers Cricket Festival at Al Khor Barwa Workers Community Complex on Friday. Twenty teams applied to play the tournament but only 12 could be accommodated as the event had to be wound up the same day. Matches were five-overs-a-side and played on a knockout basis.
Qatar Rugby, Hockey and Cricket Federation (QRHCF) President Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari inaugurated the event early morning in the presence of other officials and hundreds of spectators, mostly workers engaged in different projects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Many of the participants were workers engaged in the construction of the Al Khor World Cup Stadium.
'We are holding the tournament to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of the workers to the development of Qatar, especially their efforts in helping with the infrastructure for the FIFA World Cup, al-Kuwari told Gulf Times. 'It is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility to recognise their efforts and reward them. Even though our federation is not connected with football we decided to make a humble effort to make the workers involved in football projects feel welcome and wanted, he added. Al-Kuwari admitted that in terms of sheer numbers cricket was the number one sport in Qatar. 'Undoubtedly, when it comes to the public participation nothing beats cricket in Qatar and also in the region. It is pretty evident when you see the large numbers of expatriates, especially from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh playing the game wherever they can find open spaces.
He said his association was serious about introducing the game to Qataris. 'That is definitely on our agenda. We would like to involve them in the game. Towards that end we plan to develop more cricketing infrastructure, including a proper academy, al-Kuwari added. He said developing the national team was also a priority. 'As you are aware Qatar qualified for the ICC World Cricket League Division Five. We want to improve our standing even further and we are continuously making efforts to achieve that goal.
In the final of Friday's event Seashore scored 55 runs in their five overs, which Q-Con Qatar easily overcame with eight wickets to spare. Al-Kuwari said similar events will be held in other areas of Qatar to honour the workers. The winners and runners-up received medals and cash prizes. Prizes were given away by Manzoor Ahmed, operations manager of the federation.

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