People walk for a cause, sing for a cause and play for a cause. Here they played cricket for a cause. At a time getting a sizeable number of spectators for the game of cricket in the US may be a major task, the India Development & Relief Fund, not only attracted enough spectators, but raised $12,000 as well through a cricket game.

A record number of 76 teams participated in the 4th annual IDRF Cricket tournament helping Boston chapter raise $12,000 for developmental projects and relief and rehabilitation of recent flood victims in Assam and Bihar.

A team of employees from Indian Software giant Infosys took the honors by beating Umass Lowell team led by Viral Patel in the finals held on Aug. 1 at Mitre fields in Burlington, MA. Rajesh Patle said "It is a feeling of pride for the Infosys team to win the tournament on our first venture and thanks to the spirit of the sport and well-organized IDRF event, it will remain for a long time in our fond memories."

Beginning July 17, at Burlington and Norwood in Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire, simultaneously 75 games were played.

Each team consisted of six players and each game was played for seven overs per innings using heavy tennis balls. All matches were played in a fun environment while maintaining a competitive edge.

Each team paid an entrance fee of $90. Ashish Belambe who coordinated the event said about 525 players participated and more than 1000 witnessed the games in what could be one of the biggest sporting events organized by any Indian organization in USA. He said “Enthusiastic participation from youngsters all over New England region clearly showed that they identified with IDRF's mission of helping the poor while enjoying cricket the old-fashioned way”.

Fifteen student teams from various area universities including the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Dartmouth campuses, Bentley college and Tufts University participated in this year's tournament. Teams from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and some players from New York and Philadelphia participated in the event.

The sponsors of this year’s tournament included TiE-Boston, a leading not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals; Leader Bank, a premier financial services organization; and Fleet, a well-known banking institution. Masalaa Restaurant, a sumptuous Indian food restaurant in Billerica and Bladelogic, an IT management company, India Abroad, and Sulekha.com, a web portal connecting Indians worldwide.

The tournament started with a packed schedule from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. resulting in more than 29 games in three simultaneous venues. Picturesque grounds at Norwood and Nashua witnessed plenty of highly competitive games on Sunday, July 18. Rain interrupted the schedule for weekend of July 24-25, but the organizers managed to complete up to quarter finals. Umass team defeated last year runners up LBCC(A) team in first quarter finals, Infosys won against Vasu’s Bombay Bombers team, Mansfield Cricket Club defeated Suhas’s team and Nashua Nukes defeated LBCC(B) in a very closely contested game.

The semifinals and the finals were played on Aug.1. While Infosys with its superb all-round performance defeated Nashua Nukes, Umass team overcame Mansfield Cricket Club challenge to enter the finals. The keenly watched final between Infosys and Umass was dominated by Infosys for the most part, thanks to brilliant all-round performance by all team members.

The finals were followed by the prize distribution ceremony. Trophies, Certificates, Reebok Shoes and Gifts worth more than $1,000 in the form of dinner coupons by Masalaa were given to the winning team and outstanding performers. Mr. and Mrs. Sushil Tuli of Leader Bank, TiE Boston chapter Director of Operations Geetha Ramamurthy and Masalaa restaurant owner Balaji Jayaraman were the guests of honor. Tuli appreciated IDRF volunteers' commitment to the cause of helping the needy in India, and was all praise for participants and organizers for keeping our culture alive through such events.

Sajith was awarded the 'Fleet bank’s Man of the Finals', Ashutosh Patel of UMass was awarded 'Leader Bank’s Best Batsman of the Tournament' award and Gaurang Patel was given 'TiE Boston’s Man of the tournament'. 'Best Bowler' award was given to Gagan Gulati of Infosys. Outstanding performance awards were given to Raj Kapur and Ghulam Khan of Mansfied Club, Yash and Vikas of LBCC-B team, Kunal and Purvin Desai of Umass, MK Rai, Jay Agasthi and Ajay.

IDRF is raising funds to support flood victims in Assam and Bihar, which continues to be grim with the death toll in the two states rising to over 600, leaving millions homeless and property worth several hundred millions destroyed. IDRF has released $5,000 for immediate relief operations. IDRF is soliciting tax-deductible contribution to support the victims. Mail your donations to (make check payable to ´IDRF’ & mention ´Assam/Bihar Floods’ in the memo): IDRF, 40 0rchard Street, Tewksbury, MA, 01876.

IDRF Boston chapter is also supporting two other NGOs in India this year: Ved Mandir, Jammu for the construction of 'Balika Niketan', an orphanage for girls who lost their parents due to terrorism and violence in J&K and the Vanavasi Ashram Trust for the construction of 'Ten-bedded Hospital' to support the needs of tribals in Wayanad district in Kerala.

IDRF is an all-voluntary, tax-exempt, non-profit U.S. public charity that is operated without any overhead. It channels all contributions to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) having impeccable track records of humanitarian service and managed by dedicated volunteers and thus applies 100 percent of all contributions towards the integral development of underprivileged and the needy. For more information, please visit us on web at http://www.idrf.org, contact us at 978-640-0530 or email idrfboston@yahoo.com

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