THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Preparations are in full swing for the conduct of the inter-school cricket championship at St Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Pattom here. The championship was started as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the school. The tournament will see the participation of 10 major school cricket teams from the capital city who will fight against each other for the coveted inter-school title.
A welcome committee office for the tournament has started functioning on the school campus here which was inaugurated by St Mary’s HSS principal Fr John C C the other day. The five-day cricket championship is to kick-start on January 16 at the school ground with the final to be played on January 20.
Hosts St Mary’s HSS, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, St John’s HSS, St Joseph’s HSS, Kendriya Vidyalaya Akkulam, Kendriya Vidyalaya Pangode, St Mary’s HSS Vettucaud, St Thomas’ HSS, Shantiniketan School and L’ecole Chempaka School will be the 10 teams participating in this year’s championship.
L’ecole Chempaka will play Shantiniketan in the inaugural match of the tournament from 1 pm on Monday followed by the second game between KV Akkulam and St Joseph’s HSS. St Mary’s HSS will begin their campaign in the tournament in the next round when they face the winners of the game between St John’s HSS and Sarvodaya.
Into the third edition of the tournament, the teams which finish in the first three positions in the tournament will be presented with cash awards as well as the ever-rolling trophy. The games between the schools will be officiated by top BCCI panel umpires as well as scorers, the organisers said. Headmistress Asha Annie George, programme convener Fr Nelson Valiyaveettill, senior assistant Gigi Varghese, staff secretaries Manoj Abraham and Rachel George, school PRO Wilson George and St Mary’s Cricket Academy officials B V Shine, Joji Sam, and Biju Philip were present during the inauguration.