By Aijaz Ahmed Khan
JEDDAH — The Jotun Paints Saudi Cup 2017 was formally unveiled by Indian ODI and T20 cricket star Parvez Rasool in company of sponsors Jotun Paints Saudi Arabia Marketing Manager Faisal Karim and Brand Manager Syed Muzakkir Bukhari at a glittering launching ceremony at Fine Grill in Jeddah recently.
The Saudi Cup is sponsored by Jotun Paints Saudi Arabia, who have been a part of JCA’s elite sponsors for past 8 years. Twenty-two teams are participating in the event with the top 8 teams qualifying for the knockout stage to decide the winner and runner-up.
Parvez thanked JCA for inviting him to the event. He wished the participating teams the very best and urged them to give their best. He was happy to see cricket being organized and played in the city and other areas of Saudi Arabia. He said he was fortunate to perform Umrah at Makkah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
He appreciated the organizers for organizing such events; and players and sponsors, who are the lifeline with their sponsorship as they help cricketers enjoy the game, which is a passion, motivate them to perform and strive to give their best.
Earlier the anchor of ceremony A.A. Merchant welcomed the Parvez Rasool, sponsors Faisal Karim and Syed Muzakkir Bukhari, Vice Chairman Humayun Farooq, CEO Muhammad Iqbal, President Aijaz Khan, VP Hamid Rana, Executive Secretary Haroon Abdullah, executive committee members, distinguished guests, captains of participating teams, umpires and scorers and other officials. He reiterated the guidance of JCA’s Vice Chairman and Director, inspiring leadership of CEO, president, vice president and the tireless work of the executive secretary and executive committee members — all of which goes to prove the success of JCA. Merchant gave a brief of Parvez’s first class performance with 3,343 runs including 8 centuries and 15 fifty’s and 151 wickets and wished him the very best for the upcoming IPL season.
Aijaz Khan said it was an honor for JCA to have Parvez for the launching ceremony and it was another milestone for JCA, who have hosted number of professional cricket stars from subcontinent — Saeed Anwar, Arshad Ayub, Mohammed Azharuddin, Inzamamul Haq, Abdul Rehman, Sohail Tanvir, Shahid Afridi and Misbahul Haq, all of whom are a source of inspiration and motivation to aspiring cricketers. Khan thanked the support of local print media Saudi Gazette, Arab News, Urdu News, international print and electronic media Geo TV (Pakistan) and Ruby TV (India) for their prompt coverage and online media portals like South Asia Pulse and Yahind.Com. He appreciated JCA’s social media platform of Facebook and WhatsApp, which is being handled by team comprising Hamid Rana, Haroon Abdullah and Shakeeb Mujtahidi, the support staff, umpires and scorers for their continued services.
JCA successfully completed its 2nd Edition of SPL T20 sponsored by CIT Group and now with the 2nd edition of Saudi Cup by Jotun Paints in progress has proved to the international cricketing authorities that they truly are capable of organizing mega cricketing events. With its huge success, JCA has been approached by CIT Group to send in their proposal for the 3rd Edition of SPL T20 expected to start in October 2017. JCA owes its success to its continued sponsors Jotun Paints, CIT, Ace Travel, Kanoo, My Care & Hala, Initial Services Group, UT Lines, Pepsi, Khind Electronics and Mizo Juices who are its oxygen and have supported it consistently over the years.
JCA Vice President Hamid Rana in his vote of thanks informed that the silent heroes are the sponsors and the media person other than the chief guest of this evening Parvez Rasool, fellow committee members, members of JCA participating team members and the esteemed community leaders who came at a very short notice and made this event a grand success.
The ceremony ended with a plaque of appreciation presented by Faisal Karim of Jotun Paints to Parvez Rasool, who then formally unveiled the Jotun Paints Saudi Cup to the cheers of the guests.
