Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Directorate of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Kashmir concluded its 40 day long Inter-Department Men’s Cricket Tournament at Ground A of the Main Campus, capping a month of competitive cricket with a nail biting final that went all the way to a Super Over.
The tournament drew an overwhelming response this year, with 52 teams and more than 800 students taking part across teaching departments and satellite campuses, making it one of the largest inter-department cricket tournaments organised by the university in recent years. The scale of participation reflects the growing appetite among students for structured sporting competition beyond the classroom, and the Directorate’s efforts to expand access to organised cricket across the university’s sprawling network of campuses.
The final, played between the Institute of Technology at Zakura Campus and North Campus, delivered exactly the kind of finish organisers hope for. Batting first, IOT Zakura Campus posted a target of 128 runs, with Arsalan top scoring for the side with 27 runs. North Campus matched the total in reply, also finishing on 128, forcing the contest into a Super Over decider. In the tie breaker, North Campus scored 22 runs while IOT Zakura Campus could manage only 10, handing North Campus the title by a 12 run margin and, in the process, dethroning the tournament’s defending champions.
The concluding ceremony was presided over by Director of DPES, Prof. Raies Qadri, with Dean and Director of IoT Zakura Campus, Prof. Muhammad Tariq Banday, and Director of North Campus, Dr. Sheikh Ghulam Muhammad, attending as Guests of Honour. Prof. Qadri congratulated both finalists for their performances and commended all 52 participating teams for the sporting spirit and discipline they displayed through the tournament’s six week run. He also announced that the Directorate would organise a dedicated coaching camp for selected probables identified during the tournament, aimed at preparing them for the forthcoming Inter-Collegiate Cricket Tournament, a signal that the event doubles as a talent pipeline for higher level competition.
Prof. Banday underlined the role of sports in the holistic development of students, urging greater participation in sporting activities with enthusiasm and passion, while Dr. Sheikh Ghulam Muhammad also extended his congratulations to both finalist teams. Assistant Director Dr. Nadeem presented a brief report on the tournament’s proceedings before medals and trophies were distributed among the winners and runners-up. The event was coordinated by Assistant Director Dr. Nadeem Ahmad, with support from cricket coaches Sakeena Akhter and Amjad Qadir, while football coach Sajid Yousuf Dar conducted proceedings at the concluding ceremony.
