LEEPA VALLEY (Kashmir English): The vibrant opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the Shaheed-e-Watan Cricket Tournament 2025 took place at the Kharati Bagh Ground in Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The event saw an enthusiastic turnout, including players, spectators, officers of the Pakistan Army, and prominent political and social figures. Shaukat Javed Mir of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and legal figure Ihtisham-ul-Haq Shami attended as special tournament guests.
The speakers commended the tournament because it offered youth positive benefits through its meaningful platform for youth development. The speakers emphasized how these tournaments help develop sportsmanship together with discipline in young athletes through their participation. Lala Riaz earned extensive praise from the general public for his outstanding organizational skills in running the tournament before receiving many congratulatory messages for his achievement.
A spectacular fireworks show combined with the trophy’s unveiling produced larger levels of excitement at the event among the audience. The lively atmosphere reflected the deep passion for cricket within the valley, with locals and visitors alike sharing in the enthusiasm.
In exclusive discussions with Kashmir Digital, Lala Riaz, Shaukat Javed Mir, and Ihtisham-ul-Haq Shami underscored the necessity of promoting sports activities. They emphasised how tournaments like these contribute to the physical and mental well-being of young people, keeping them engaged in healthy competition and away from negative influences. They also acknowledged the role of sports in uniting communities and fostering a spirit of camaraderie.
A competitive cricket match under floodlights followed the opening ceremony to further enhance the spirit of the event. The strong competition between teams delivered continuous entertainment for all spectators who watched the match. The game drew immense enthusiasm from spectators because cricket exists as a prominent element of the regional culture.
The tournament gives young people recreational opportunities yet serves as a venue where promising talent can develop while being showcased to spectators. Through this competition the emergence of future cricket stars will likely happen who could achieve elevated achievements in the sport.
