JKCA’s first-ever U-14 cricket tournament kicks off in Srinagar, Jammu

Srinagar, Jul 21: In a bid to promote cricket from the grassroots level, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on Monday kicked off its maiden U-14 Inter-School Cricket Tournament in Jammu and Srinagar.

As per the JKCA, the initiative, a first-of-its-kind effort in the region, aims to identify and groom budding cricketers at an early age for different professional-level cricket stages.

According to JKCA officials, who spoke to Greater Kashmir, eight teams were participating in the event, with seven teams representing different schools and one team from JKCA itself. The tournament began with two matches played simultaneously at Doon School in Srinagar and Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar.

As per the tournament guidelines, each game is a 25-over affair, offering a professional setup and support for the young participants. Interestingly, players as young as 9 years old are part of the competition under this age category, showcasing the depth of emerging cricket talent from the Kashmir region.

“We are monitoring the performance of every player closely. Our match officials are conducting the games under the supervision of JKCA,” said Abdul Qayoom Bagaw, the tournament coordinator and a senior JKCA functionary.

Meanwhile, school representatives hailed the initiative as a breakthrough for aspiring cricketers. Shahyan Shabir Mir, Principal of RP School, expressed optimism, stating that they were happy to be a part of the tournament.

“This event is unique because it allows U-14 boys to play professional-level cricket. We appreciate JKCA for taking this step and hope to enhance sports infrastructure for our students.”

Young cricketers were seen highly enthusiastic and energetic to go onto the field. For many participants, the tournament was a dream come true. Playing on a turf wicket for the first time, the excitement was evident.

“I used to play with a Cosco ball in my locality. Playing here on turf makes me feel like I am in an international match,” said a young cricketer.

Notably, JKCA also started the similar programme in Jammu region today to tap grassroots cricket development, introducing a structured U-14 school-level cricket tournament

As per the JKCA officials, this marks a significant shift in JKCA’s approach to early-stage talent development, focusing on players as young as 13 and 14 years old.

“This is the first time JKCA has ever done it. We are starting with just a few schools, but the plan is to expand this across all schools in Jammu and Kashmir,” said a JKCA official involved with the initiative.

Meanwhile, as per the cricket observers and enthusiasts, the move is being seen as a bold and strategic intervention to catch talent young, particularly in a region that has long yearned for a solid pipeline to feed professional cricket.

“Those who perform exceptionally in the tournament will not just receive certificates or applause—they will be absorbed into JKCA’s formal coaching and training ecosystem. These young players will be supervised by professional coaches, and their progress will be monitored on a daily basis,” officials said.

“The idea is to take the best out of these young boys and give them a structured environment to grow,” the official added. “We will provide them the platform, coaching, and mentoring that’s needed at this crucial stage.”