The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) is the latest in First-class events played in India among the Ranji Trophy teams every year. It is played in T20 format, with the inaugural edition played in 2006-07. The SMAT is named after Syed Mushtaq a former India cricketer. The first edition of SMAT was one by Dinesh Karthik’s Tamil Nadu. TN have also been the most successful team ever in SMAT winning the Cup three times.
38 teams contest win SMAT. The teams are divided in five groups A, B, C, D & E. The top ranked teams in each groups qual. The top ranked teams in each group qualify for the knockouts.
