Army’s Chinar Premier League Final Becomes the Town’s First-Ever Day-Night Cricket Spectacle, Drawing Families Past Midnight
Sultan Warriors Lift CPL Trophy, Beat Ramzi Sports Srinagar by 41 Runs
Suhail Khan
Baramulla, Sep 14 : For a district where nightlife has long been a dream, Baramulla stayed awake and how Hundreds of families, some carrying food and blankets, lingered past midnight at the General Bipin Rawat Stadium here to watch the final of the Indian Army-organised Chinar Premier League (CPL), the first-ever day-night cricket tournament in this north Kashmir town.
The final, played between the Sultan Warriors — among the Valley’s most-followed teams and a Srinagar team Ramzi Sports capped a landmark fortnight for Baramulla, which until this month had never hosted competitive cricket under floodlights.
The three matches since past week played under lights drew crowds from Baramulla and adjoining areas, with the stadium packed to capacity for the summit clash.
For residents, the tournament has been more than sport. “It is a big win for the youth,” said social and political activist Touseef Raina, speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post. “At a time when our young generation is often drawn towards wrong practices, an environment where they can enjoy sport under lights, breathe fresh air and spend time in the open sky is truly appreciable.”
Touseef Raina said the spectacle had brought families and friends together, with spectators cheering the players — “the stars of our Kashmir, who are not only playing a great game but inspiring generations.”
He added that the Army deserved “not just credit but a salute” for “showing how they care for our youth and for trying their best to provide facilities and platforms for a beautiful, successful future.”
The CPL, officials said, is part of a broader push to revive sporting infrastructure and engagement in the district. For a town accustomed to early shutters and quiet streets after dusk, the sight of floodlit cricket and a stadium roaring well into the night marked a rare departure.
“For a change, no one wanted to go home,” said a local spectator. “It felt like the Baramulla we have only heard about from our elders.”
The love for cricket has been equally supported by the locals and local entrepreneurs.
Earlier in the day, Café Rose Avenue announced it would remain open until 2 a.m. This is how the love, the support, and the changing environment have come together. Farooq, a veteran cricketer of the district, said that earlier people used to return to their homes by 9 p.m., but now life has come alive—not only with cricket but with extended business hours as well, something that never happened in decades. Perhaps this is the real change after the abrogation of Article 370.
Farooq said the real change is visible among the youth, especially in how sports gear has evolved and how young people are excelling in various sports. A prime example is our “Baramulla Express,” Auqib Nabi, and how he reached the national level—something we had only dreamed of.
He praised the Indian Army for being a pillar of support for a beautiful tomorrow for Baramulla and a better future for the youth.
Teenager Sahil Ahmad, who travelled from Pattan to watch the final, told The Web Story/The Varmul Post that the tournament had changed what he believes is possible. “I used to think day-night cricket only happens on television, only in other countries,” he said. “Now it has happened in my Baramulla. I have started practising again. Maybe one day I will play in that stadium.”
I appeal to the government to take positive steps towards overhauling the sports infrastructure. When our Indian Army can do it, why can’t you? It is the need of the hour for us, the younger generation, to receive support and gain access to platforms.
Local coach Zubair Ahmad Wani, who has trained boys in the district for over a decade, said the CPL had achieved what years of appeals could not. “We have talent here — plenty of it. What we lacked was a stage and light,” Wani said. “Give these boys floodlights and a crowd, and they will not wander anywhere. They will come to the ground.”
Meanwhile, shopkeepers around the stadium reported brisk business late into the night. “We kept our stalls open till late hours. That has never happened here,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, who runs a kiryana shop near the venue. “Cricket did what curfews could not — it kept our town awake, and happy.”
Batting first after winning the toss, Sultan Warriors Baramulla set a target of 178 runs in 20 overs. While chasing the massive target amid a massive audience and a huge gathering of sports lovers, Ramzi Sports Srinagar, despite playing some good combinations throughout the innings, could not make it to the trophy and lost the final by 41 runs.
The final was won by Sultan Warriors Baramulla, marking a historic moment for the team, as they became the first side to win an under-lights cricket final organised by the Army in the Chinar Premier League (CPL).
Major General Manoj Joshi, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 19 Infantry Division, Chief secretary Atul Dulloo, DC Baramulla S.F Hamid attended the occasion as the chief guests. The final match was also graced by top officials of the Army, police, and civil departments.
