KATHMANDU: The teams are ready, the pitch is set and everyone is in mood for some Howzat!! Beach Cricket Festival 2010, the first of its kind in Nepal is set to begin on March 26 at Riverside Spring Resort in Kurintar. The event organised by Shangri-La Cricket Academy to promote tourism and Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will be held under Round-robin tournament.

Altogether 16 teams from different government organisations, corporate houses, film fraternity, INGOs are taking part in the

tournament where five players constitute a team and the game will be of five overs a side with special soft ball. Similarly, the second edition of the event will be held on April 9 and 10 while an Inter Bank match is scheduled for April 16 and 17.

Moreover, Caribbean pool party, interactive games and live DJ music are additional attractions of the event.

“Our major objective of organising this event is to promote different kinds of tourism like domestic tourism and sports tourism,” said Aamir Akhtar, Director of Shangri-La Cricket Academy adding that in the meantime it will also help promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

Namrata Shrestha is the goodwill

ambassador while Malvika Subba and Gagan Thapa are the

official promoters and supporters of the

festival.

The Himalayan Times is the official print

media of the event.