Alfaaz- The Words
Jahangir Lolabi
Lolab (Kupwara): In a high-voltage finale that had the entire Valley talking, Shaheen Sports Lalpora emerged as the first-ever champions of the Kilo North Kashmir Premier League (KNKPL-2025), defeating NCC Narbal XI by eight runs at the picturesque Chandigam Cricket Stadium in Lolab. The championship, organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with local youth groups and sports bodies, brought together 98 teams from across North Kashmir and provided a spectacular platform for grassroots talent.
Batting first after winning the toss, the hosts overcame early setbacks thanks to a blistering 71 off 46 balls from Sheikh Junaid, who was the star of the evening. He found ample support from Raja Tanveer with a steady 46 and Shahid Mir who smashed 29 from just 13 deliveries, helping Shaheen Sports post a formidable total of 202 for six, the first 200-plus score of the tournament, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
In reply, NCC Narbal XI showed great resilience. After losing opener Waseem Kachur early, Saqib Pandya and Aabid Nabi steadied the innings before their captain Mehraj Amin launched a breathtaking counterattack. His 64 off just 27 balls, coupled with Aabid Nabi’s gritty half-century, raised Narbal’s hopes of snatching victory. But Shaheen’s Mir Tahir bowled a decisive spell, conceding just 15 runs in his four overs and breaking the momentum at a crucial stage. Despite their gallant effort, Narbal XI fell agonizingly short at 194 for seven, handing Shaheen Sports Lalpora a famous win that will be remembered for years in Lolab.
The atmosphere during the award ceremony was one of joy and gratitude. SDM Sogam felicitated the match officials and the dedicated members of Chandigam Sports Club, Shaukat Dar, Shahnawaz Shah, and Imtiaz Dar, for their tireless work in organizing the championship. Among the top honors, Raja Tanveer was celebrated as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 206 runs, while his teammate Shehzad Lone claimed the purple cap for his 11 wickets. Both were presented with cash awards of five thousand rupees each by Owais Farooq Mir, Divisional Forest Officer Kamraj, and Zubair Gulbuddin of GD Sports, Srinagar.
The undisputed hero of the tournament was Sheikh Junaid, whose explosive batting and consistency earned him both the Player of the Series and the Man of the Match award in the final. He walked away with a cash prize of forty thousand rupees, presented jointly by SSP Kupwara Ghulam Jeelani Wani and Advocate Naira Rashid.
The champions, Shaheen Sports Lalpora, received a cash prize of one lakh fifty thousand rupees and the glittering trophy, while the spirited runners-up NCC Narbal XI were awarded seventy-five thousand rupees and medals. The presentations were made by Maj Gen Vivek Narang, General Officer Commanding Kilo Force, along with Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, Commander 8 Sector Brigadier Kunal Sharma, SSP Kupwara Shri Ghulam Jeelani Wani, SDM Lolab Shri Mudasir Ahmad, and Advocate Naira Rashid, who graced the occasion as guests of honor.
The KNKPL-2025, the first inter-district cricket championship hosted in Lolab, has already carved a niche for itself in the sporting landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. Beyond the thrilling matches and emerging stars, it has reaffirmed the power of sport to unite communities, nurture dreams, and offer young players from remote corners like Lolab a chance to etch their names into cricketing history. For Shaheen Sports Lalpora, this triumph is more than just a trophy, it is a moment of pride that has illuminated the valley and stamped Lolab’s place on the cricketing map of the region.
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