India, Pak, England, WI to vie for Sharjah Champions trophy

India, Pakistan, England and the West Indies will compete for the Sharjah Champions trophy in the first-ever floodlit cricket tournament to be held in Sharjah between December 11 and 19.

All four teams have confirmed their participation in the tournament, says Qasim Noorani, chief organising executive of the Sharjah-based organisers, the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series.

Noorani said work was underway at the Sharjah cricket stadium to ensure a state-of-the-art lighting system for all seven day-night matches.

Pakistan and the West Indies will fly in for the tournament after the Karachi Test while England will complete a one-week warm-up tour of Lahore, Pakistan, before reaching Sharjah. India is expected after completing its series with Sri Lanka.

Three Indian and three Pakistani cricketers, along with Richie Richardson of the West Indies, will be honoured during the tournament. The Indian and Pakistani beneficiaries have not been named yet.

India has also confirmed its participation in the Sharjah triangular in April 1998. New Zealand is the second team in the tournament, while Australia or Zimbabwe will be the third.