Pulwama, Aug 19: The second edition of the Royal Premier League (RPL), the day-and-night cricket tournament that created considerable excitement among sports enthusiasts in south Kashmir last year, began in Pulwama on Wednesday evening with renewed enthusiasm and participation from teams across the Valley.
The tournament is being hosted at the Sports Stadium Pulwama, where matches are being played under floodlights, providing local players and spectators with an opportunity to experience competitive night cricket closer to home.
The first edition marked a significant moment for the district’s sporting landscape, becoming the first major day-and-night cricket tournament of its kind in the area and attracting thousands of spectators to the stadium. Its success encouraged the organisers to return with a second edition, this time with ten teams representing different parts of the Valley.
The participating teams include Sultan Warriors Baramulla, The Real Sultan Sumerbugh, Al Noor Kings, Bhat Lions Kupwara, Valley Star Ganderbal, Murad Cricket Club, Al Fallah Cricket Club, United Imports Srinagar, Valley Fresh Cold Chain and Royal Goodwill Cricket Club.
The tournament is providing a competitive platform for emerging cricketers to showcase their skills while also encouraging young people to take up sports and remain engaged in healthy and constructive activities.
MLA Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Para underlined the importance of creating more opportunities for young athletes and said that such tournaments would continue to be encouraged to nourish sporting talent in the district.
“These events provide our young athletes with an opportunity to showcase their talent and also give them a positive platform to channel their energy. Pulwama has immense sporting potential, and we will continue to support initiatives aimed at nurturing our budding athletes,” Para said.
With the second edition now underway, the enthusiasm among players and spectators appears to have grown further. For many local youngsters, the tournament is not merely a series of cricket matches but an opportunity to witness organised competitive cricket in a professional atmosphere.
Residents and cricket enthusiasts have welcomed the continuation of the tournament, saying that sporting events of this scale can help identify and promote talent from different parts of the Valley.
However, alongside the excitement, residents have urged the district administration and traffic authorities to make adequate arrangements for traffic regulation and public convenience during the matches.
A Pulwama resident said people fully support sporting activities but stressed that the convenience and safety of commuters should not be overlooked.
“We fully support sports and such initiatives, but the convenience and safety of the general public should also be taken into consideration. Proper arrangements should be made so that people can enjoy the tournament without creating difficulties for those who are travelling through the area,” he said.
Residents recalled that the day-and-night matches during the previous edition had led to considerable traffic congestion, particularly on the stretch between Murran Chowk and the Sports Stadium.
“Last year, there was considerable chaos and traffic congestion. Many people returning from work struggled to reach their homes because of the rush around the stadium and adjoining roads,” said Zahid Ahmad, a local resident.
They have now appealed to the district administration and traffic authorities to deploy adequate personnel and formulate a traffic-management plan before the major matches, particularly during evenings when spectator turnout is expected to increase.
Locals said proper parking arrangements, traffic diversions wherever required and regulation of movement around the stadium could help prevent unnecessary inconvenience while ensuring that the tournament remains a positive experience for both spectators and residents.
Expectations are high that the tournament will not only provide an important platform to emerging cricketers but also strengthen Pulwama’s growing sporting culture—(KNO)
