Floodlight cricket fever grips players of every age in Ramazan like no other month across the country but in the garrison city, the sport has become more of a Ramazan tradition now.
Cricket tournaments played in various neighbourhoods have entered their final rounds with quarter-finals starting today.
These cricket matches start at 9pm and continue to thrill citizens till sehri.
Cricket lovers play their favourite game in the streets and open areas under flood and street lights. Scores of people from their respective localities also come to watch these matches and enjoy the gentlemen’s game.
These matches start just after the Taraweeh prayers and citizens say their popularity is on the rise, and even seminary students participate in this healthy activity.
One can easily claim that Ramazan cricket has become part of Rawalpindi’s culture now, said a citizen.
On the other hand, the quarter-finals of the ongoing tournaments will begin today and the semi-finals will be played on Tuesday. The tournaments are poised to culminate on Friday.
Local teams from different areas come to participate in the games and add more sensation to small game events. Nevertheless, residents of the city and Cantt areas cheer for their local teams with enthusiasm.
The sporting events however come at a cost with glasses of shops, homes, and other buildings being the ultimate targets. Despite the losses, the players never give up on their passion.
Currently, these cricket matches are being played in approximately 105 different neighbourhoods of Rawalpindi city and the cantonment and 4 to 5 local teams are participating in each tournament.
Young cricketers named Farhad Khan, Faisal Rasheed, and others said that it is a healthy activity and they come to play their favourite sport after Taraweeh prayers.
They say they only stop playing one and a half hours before sehri.
“In the past, we use to watch these matches when we were too young but now we are playing here.”
They said that children who are watching these matches today will be playing tomorrow. A player said our many friends who played here have now moved to the USA, Canada, and Europe and they watch these matches on WhatsApp and revive old memories.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2023.
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