Shillong, Mar 27: The trophy of the inaugural top-tier Senior Men Challengers Cup, organised by the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA), was revealed on Sunday at the MCA Ground in Polo here. The tournament is set to begin on Monday morning.

Top five men’s cricket teams of Meghalaya will be competing for glory and the coveted trophy in the limited overs tournament. The players – 75 in all – have been chosen by the MCA selectors on the basis of their national, domestic and local league performances.

Each team will play each other once, with the top two qualifying playing the final on April 9. MCA Honorary Secretary Gideon Kharkongor also announced at the launch that none other than former Indian national team captain and legend of the sport, Mohammad Azharuddin, has consented to visit Shillong for the final.

“This tournament will be the culmination of all the various ones that have been organised by the MCA over the course of the past year,” Kharkongor, flanked by other senior members of the MCA, said.

Besides giving the players an opportunity to shine and be recognised for their talent and hard work, the tournament is also a chance for local coaches, trainers, physios and other support staff, who the MCA has gone to great lengths to train, also get some more experience under their belts.

Each team has been named after a natural landmark of Meghalaya. They are Myntdu Lions (captained by Dippu Ch Sangma), Umiam Eagles (Raj Biswa), Nokrek Tigers (Sylvester Mylliempdah), Simsang Sharks (Akash K Choudhary) and Symper Panthers (Kishan Lyngdoh).

The opening match of what promises to be an engaging 11 days of cricket will be between Myntdu Lions and Nokrek Tigers on Monday at 9am.