Poonch Clinches Championship Trophy of Brigadier Usman SPPR Inter District Cricket Tournament 2024

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LIAQAT ALI KHATANA

RAJOURI DEC 22:-The Brigadier Usman SPPR Inter District/Tehsil Cricket Tournament 2024 organised under the aegis of White Knight Corps concluded with a grand closing ceremony at the Brigadier Usman Cricket Stadium, Naushera. The event was presided over by the GOC, Ace of Spade Division, as the Chief Guest, alongside esteemed dignitaries including Commander Tithwal Brigade, Commander Naushera Brigade, DC Rajouri and other prominent local leaders. The ceremony celebrated the tournament’s success in fostering sportsmanship and unity while showcasing the immense cricketing talent of the region.

The electrifying finale between Sunderbani and Poonch was a spectacle of skill and determination. Poonch emerged victorious, clinching the championship trophy and a cash prize of ₹4 Lakhs. The runners-up, Sunderbani, were awarded ₹2 Lakhs. Mehboob Sheikh of Sunderbani was declared Man of the Match for his exceptional all-round performance.

HIGHLIGHTS
Sunderbani won the toss and opted to bat, posting an impressive total of 138 runs in 20 overs. Poonch, despite the competitive total chased down the total in 16.3 overs at the loss of 7 wickets. Mehrab Mir shone as the top scorer for Sunderbani with 92 runs, while Mehboob Sheikh of Poonch showcased remarkable effort taking 2 wickets and scoring 35 crucial runs for Poonch enabing them to chinch the championship.

Awards and Recognition:
The tournament honored outstanding individual performances with the following awards:

Player of the Series: Bilal Ahmed, awarded a Motorcycle.Best Batsman: Bilal Ahmed, awarded ₹25,000.

Best Bowler: Md Arif, awarded ₹25,000.

Man of the Match: Mehboob Sheikh, awarded ₹15,000.

Tournament Overview:
This inaugural edition of the Brigadier Usman SPPR Inter District/Tehsil Cricket Tournament was a landmark event, bringing together eight district/tehsil teams—Udhampur, Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Reasi, Naushera, Rajouri, Poonch, and Doda. Conducted on a league-cum-knockout basis, the tournament boasted the largest prize pool in the region, totaling ₹20 Lakhs.

The tournament achieved remarkable success, with live-streamed matches reaching over 50 Lakh viewers across various electronic platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Print media coverage extended to 2 Lakh readers through 15 regional and national newspapers.

The Brigadier Usman SPPR Cricket Tournament underscored the Indian Army’s commitment to uplifting remote border areas by promoting local talent, fostering unity and encouraging a vibrant sporting culture. The tournament’s success has set the stage for its establishment as an annual sporting tradition.