Pulwama, Sep 04 (KNO): The second edition of the Royal Premier League (RPL) reached its much-awaited finale on Friday evening, drawing thousands of cricket enthusiasts to Pulwama as the day-night final brought the town to life with an extraordinary display of public participation and sporting enthusiasm.
The final between Sultan Warriors Baramulla and Royal Goodwill Cricket Club is being played under floodlights at the Sports Stadium Pulwama, with a massive crowd gathering at and around the venue to witness the contest. The two sides had also featured in the tournament’s opening match, making their return to the final a notable culmination of the league.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the overwhelming response to the final led to heavy movement of vehicles toward the stadium, causing traffic congestion at several locations in Pulwama town. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at various points as spectators from Pulwama and other parts of Kashmir made their way to the venue.
The huge turnout once again underlined the growing popularity of local cricket tournaments in Kashmir, particularly night cricket, which has emerged as a major attraction for young people and sports lovers.
The RPL Season 2, which began in August, featured 10 teams competing in a 20-over leather-ball format at the Sports Stadium Pulwama. The tournament brought together players from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and provided local cricketers with an opportunity to compete in a professionally organised sporting environment.
The tournament was organised by Irfan Sarkar, who has been associated with the league since its inception. The second edition witnessed strong public interest from its opening game, with thousands of spectators turning up for matches and creating a lively atmosphere around the stadium.
Friday’s final, however, took the enthusiasm several notches higher, with the stadium packed with spectators and cricket fans cheering for their respective teams.
The scale of the gathering also presented a challenge for traffic management, as the concentration of spectators and vehicles around the stadium resulted in congestion at several points in the town. The movement of traffic slowed considerably as people continued to arrive for the final.
The RPL has increasingly become more than just a cricket tournament, with its organisers and supporters projecting it as an initiative aimed at providing youth with a constructive platform through sport.
Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, who has been associated with the Royal Premier League, said the overwhelming response to the event demonstrated the enthusiasm and potential of the youth.
“Tonight, Pulwama chose hope over headlines. Forty thousand-plus hearts beating as one under the lights—not for politics, not for conflict, but for cricket. This is what healing looks like,” Para said.
He said the league represented a youth-led effort to create opportunities for young people through sports.
“What the government should be doing, our youth are doing themselves. Built by the youth, for the youth and of the youth,” Para said.
Para described the event as a reflection of the ability of sport to bring people together, saying every boundary and six during the tournament represented a celebration of hope and youthful energy.
Meanwhile, Irfan Sarkar described the initiative as much more than a cricket match, saying the RPL could prove to be “game-changing for Pulwama.”
The league has also provided a platform for established and emerging cricketers to share the same field. Several recognised players from Jammu and Kashmir have participated in the tournament, adding to its appeal among spectators—(KNO)