HYDERABAD: The professionalism of the Chennai-based teams came to the fore in the last six editions of the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup all-India invitation cricket tournament, which will begin here on Saturday. It will not be a surprise if another outfit from the region reigns supreme this time around too. The fact that Chemplast, the defending champion, has won the title four times and India Cements and MRF once each, bears testimony of the way these teams adapt themselves to different conditions, day to day. The general feeling is that script is unlikely to change this time even though the event has reverted to the traditional three-day format on a knock-out basis.

Laxman to turn out

From the host's point of view, the big news is that V.V.S.Laxman is available and he will play for the State team as his employer Indian Airlines is not in the fray.

Incidentally, after a long gap, this edition of the Moin-ud-Dowla has acquired some significance. This is because some of the contenders for a slot in the Indian team like former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Laxman are hoping for a recall into the one-day team.

One of the most keenly awaited matches should be between Mumbai, led by Wasim Jaffer, and Cricket Association of Bengal with Ganguly (playing under Deep Dasgupta), at the Gymkhana on September 6.

In the inaugural matches, HCA President's XI will take on All-India BSNL, Railways meets Combined Districts, Tripura will clash with Goa and Jharkhand (minus Mahendra Singh Dhoni) will run into Assam.

With the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) roping in India Cements to sponsor the event again, the players have something at stake on the financial front too as the winner will get Rs. 1 lakh and the runner-up Rs. 50,000.

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