Packed yards: Cricket, volleyball bring FR Peshawar back to life

Month-long tournament was held in region before Ramazan

PESHAWAR: The sun has started to shine once again in Frontier Region Peshawar where cricket and volleyball tournaments are the new buzzwords for the youth.

For little over a month, the militancy-infested region where people were once too afraid to step out of their houses was transformed into a hub for sporting activities. Many young boys are now spotted playing cricket in playgrounds.



The idea of holding sports tournaments in the region was floated by an army major stationed in the area. He encouraged young people in the region to form cricket and volleyball teams. As a result, every neighbourhood in the locality has its own team. The army major has also arranged tournaments where teams from different parts of FR Peshawar compete with one another.

Stirred into activity

Recently, a month-long tournament was held in the region in which five teams –two from Jina Kor clan and one each from Hassan Khel, Bora and Asho Khel areas – participated.

“The army officer came to watch the matches and even distributed prizes to Hassan Khel team for cricket and Asho Khel team for volleyball,” a tribal elder told The Express Tribune. According to the elder, sporting activities slowed down because of Ramazan.

“However, before Ramazan, the playgrounds were filled with young people playing cricket,” he added.

Paving the road to peace

The elder said the initiative was introduced to bring people out of the shadow of doom and gloom which has gripped the region due to militancy.

“The militants have caused considerable damage to the people,” he said. “They have kidnapped and killed members of khasadar forces who were recruited from among the locals. Many people had fled the region and settled in Peshawar and other parts of the country for safety, leaving the streets and roads deserted.”

However, in the elder’s opinion peace and stability have returned to the region.

“Militants have now left the region following military offensives,” he said. “Tribespeople have returned home. Even though people fear the return of militants, promoting sports and culture can help bring the region back to life.”

A malik from Asho Khel told The Express Tribune these sport tournaments have provided a series of benefits to young people in the region.

“The resumption of local jirgas served as the first sign of normalcy,” he said. “However, people were still uncertain about the future. With these tournaments, young people will gain the opportunity to live a healthy life.”

The malik said they are planning to arrange night matches in the region during Ramazan.

“However, prolonged power outages have held us back,”
he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2015.