Air-India favourites for Times Shield

MUMBAI: Air-India, fielding India A star Dheeraj Jadhav and former India stars Narendra Hirwani, Sameer Dighe, Praveen Amre star favourites to retain the ''A'' Division title of The Times of India Challenge Shield cricket tournament which enters its 75th year.
New team this year are Mumbai Customs, last year''s ''B'' Division champs led by Vinay Vinekar.They are in Group ''A'' along with most-crowned champs Tata Sports Club, defending champs Air-India and SunGrace Mafatlal.
Group ''B'' has Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Western Railway and Reliance Energy. The second round is from October 19 and the final round from October 23. The `B'' Division games are also starting simultaneously.
THE TIMES CRICKET SIELD 2004-05
SCHEDULE FOR ''A'' DIVISION
1st ROUND –14, 15, 16 OCTOBER, 2004
''A'' GROUP
Mumbai Customs Sports Club
V/s. Tata Sports Club
Parsee Gymkhana
Sun-Grace Mafatlal Sports Club
V/s. Air India Sports Club
MIG Cricket Club,
Bandra
''B'' GROUP
Reliance Energy Ltd.
V/s. Indian Oil Corporation. Ltd.
Karnataka Sporting Association,
Cross Maidan
Bhatrat Petroleum Corporation. Ltd.
V/s. Western Railway Sports Asson.
Western Railway Ground,
Mahalakshmi
2nd ROUND –19, 20, 21 OCTOBER, 2004
''A'' GROUP
Sun-Grace Mafatlal Sports Club
V/s. Tata Sports Club
C.C.I.
2. Air India Sports Club
V/s. Mumbai Customs Sports Club
MIG Cricket Club,
Bandra.
''B'' GROUP
Indian Oil Corporation. Ltd.
V/s. Western Railway Sports Asson.
Western Railway Ground,
Mahalakshmi.
2. Bhatrat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
V/s. Reliance Energy Ltd.
Parsee Gymkhana
3rd ROUND –23, 24, 25 OCTOBER, 2004
''A'' GROUP
Mumbai Customs Sp. Club
V/s. Sun-Grace Mafatlal Sports Club
Parsee Gymkhana
2. Air India Sports Club
V/s. Tata Sports Club
C.C.I.
''B'' GROUP
Reliance Energy Ltd.
V/s. Western Railway Sports Asson.
Western Railway Ground,
Mahalakshmi
Indian Oil Corporation. Ltd.
V/s. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
MIG Cricket Club,
Bandra