In Pulwama, cricket heals wounds of the past
The Pulwama district in Kashmir is hosting a night-time cricket tournament that has drawn thousands of spectators, marking a shift toward normalcy in a region historically plagued by conflict. Local leaders and residents view the event as a symbol of hope and a way to foster community unity.
Why it matters
It demonstrates the role of sports as a catalyst for social healing and stability in regions recovering from long-term political and civil unrest.
Under lights cricket in once-volatile and conflict-ridden Pulwama district in south Kashmir has come as a catharsis for locals. For a change, hundreds of locals, along with family members and carrying food items, stayed back till late Wednesday (August 19, 2026) night to watch the first match of the Royal Premier League Pulwama.
“The scenes at the stadium in Pulwama were unprecedented. It has provided a platform to locals to laugh and smile. It’s also an act to bring positivity. Kashmir’s youths are witness to the misery in the past. This is a small effort to give them a chance to be happy and hopeful,” Pulwama legislator Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra told The Hindu.
Irfan Sarkar, a local youth from Pulwama, in a rare galvanisation of support to cricket with local sponsors, has provided digital boards, replays on live screens, social media streaming and commentary.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in