July 26  
Morocco to open new avenues for cricket in Africa 

ISLAMABAD: Morocco Cup tri-series, beginning at historic city of Tangier involving Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, will carry a total prize money of $250,000, thus making the event one of the richest one-day cricket competitions in the world. 

The Federation Royale Marocaine de Cricket (FRMC) is hosting the tournament which also includes Sri Lanka and South Africa. This maiden cricket tournament in Morocco will be staged at a grand, new stadium built in the lovely city of Tangier with beautiful hills providing the backdrop. The first-ever cricket festival in north of Africa is itself being seen as an important part of the build-up to next year's World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. 

Percy Sonn, the President of the United Cricket Board of South Africa and Vice-President of the African Cricket Association, says Africa is the new zone for cricket and that the new tournament in Morocco is a major step "towards globalisation of the game of cricket". 

Meanwhile, the finishing touches are being applied to the multi-million dollar new stadium which has been built in Tangiers in a picturesque location. 

The ground has an initial capacity of over 5,000 spectators. The main pavilion has been designed over four storeys to provide generous and spacious accommodation which includes players' changing rooms, umpires area, administration offices, press gallery, television production areas and commentary booths, fixed camera platforms, restaurant and dining areas. 

The main building took 15 months to complete and sits on a 9-acre site adjacent to the Royal Gold Club of Tangier which is currently being refurbished into a 18-hole championship course. 

The playing area incorporates 5 pitches which were sown with a mixture of 3 different grasses to provide year-round durability. 

The square has been equipped with an underground drainage system which ensures it dries quickly in the event of rain, which is most unlikely in Tangier between March and October. 

The square was laid by a professional groundsman with more than 30 years experience. Admission for the inaugural series will be free of charge. Considerable interest has been aroused within the local community, where cricket is fast gathering support and a large crowd is expected. 

A large number of fans are also expected from the Indian sub-continent, from within the expatriate community of Spain and from Britain, which has a big core of cricket enthusiasts among the Asian population.