Riyadh: Bhatkal Muslim Jamaat Eastern Province (BMJ Dammam) showcased an outstanding performance in the Nawayath Cricket League 2025, organized by the Murdeshwar Muslim Community Riyadh, securing victory in the final match. Meanwhile, Bhatkal Community Jeddah (BC Jeddah) finished as the runner-up in the tournament.

The ten-over, tennis ball cricket tournament was played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring a total of eight teams, including five from Murdeshwar and three from Bhatkal. The tournament, which started at 7 AM on Friday, concluded successfully around 3 AM late at night, with a break given for Friday prayers. A total of 15 matches, including the final, were played, with players from Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Manki, Valki, Honnavar, and Shirur, who reside in different parts of Saudi Arabia, displaying exceptional performances.

In the first semi-final, BC Jeddah defeated Royal Fighters to book their place in the final, while in the second semi-final, BMJ Dammam secured their spot by defeating Bhatkal Muslim Association (BMA) Riyadh.

In the final match, BMJ Dammam batted first and posted a total of 109 runs for six wickets in 10 overs. Nauman played a crucial knock of 45 runs off just 23 balls, while Abdul Baqi scored 20 runs and Faizan Shaikh contributed 14 runs. In response, BC Jeddah could only manage 87 runs for five wickets in 10 overs, with Syed Afeef Maliki scoring 16 runs, Ikrama Motiya 14 runs, Mohtasim Jakti 13 runs, and Ubaidah 11 runs.

For their spectacular victory, BMJ Dammam was awarded a cash prize of 3,000 Riyals along with a beautiful trophy, while the runner-up BC Jeddah received 1,500 Riyals along with the runner-up trophy. Ikrama Motiya was declared Man of the Series, while Ali Shah Shirur was named Best Batsman, and Mohtasim Jakti won the Best Bowler award.

Despite the chilling 8-degree Celsius temperature, hundreds of cricket enthusiasts remained at the ground until the final match, enjoying the thrilling performances of the players.

Speaking about the tournament, Dr. Waseem Mani, President of Murdeshwar Muslim Community Riyadh and a prominent social activist, stated that hundreds of Nawayath community members from Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Manki, Valki, Shirur, and Honnavar reside in different cities of Saudi Arabia, but they rarely get a chance to connect. "To bring them together and strengthen the bond of brotherhood, we decided to organize this tournament, and we are happy that we achieved our goal," he said.

Tournament Convenor Mustafa Syed mentioned that teams such as Royal Fighters, Health Care 11 Dammam, Haseeb Titans, Desert Strikers, Shaikh Blasters, BMJ (Dammam), BMA Riyadh, and BC Jeddah participated in the tournament. "This event provided an excellent opportunity for the entire Nawayath community from the coastal belt to come together. Players displayed remarkable performances, bringing pride to their teams and promoting the spirit of cricket within the community," he added.

The tournament was successfully organized by Murdeshwar Jamaat, with key contributions from Sports Committee members Shariq Damda, Raghib Haglwadi, Qaiser Wagh, Abdul Malik Qazi, Hashim Maddas, Sinan Siddibapa, Asjad, and Tausif Koteshwar.