In Pulwama, cricket heals wounds of the past

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. 

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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. 

“It’s the 2nd Edition of the Royal Premier League Pulwama. Ten teams will play all their games under floodlights, which allows locals to attend matches after sundown. Around 20,000 attended the first match. They were cheering, drumming and celebrating every moment together,” said Mr. Sarkar.

Pulwama has been on the edge, with youths clashing with security forces on the streets during street uprisings of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 over a slew of issues. Scores of civilians died and many local youths took to militancy after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir in 2016. Still, Pulwama is known from raids by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), State Investigation Agency and the J&K Police.  

Nightlife has been a dream for the turmoil-hit district. However, cricket in the past two years has acted as a healing process for locals. “Kashmir is watching. Kashmir is playing. Kashmir is celebrating. This is more than cricket. It is hope over fear, unity over division, and life over darkness,” said Mr. Parra.

The cricket tournament has allowed the eateries to do business till midnight. “Chicken items are selling like hot cakes. It’s rare to see customers after 10 p.m. in the district,” said Niyaz Ahmad, a local eatery owner.  

Mr. Parra said sees night cricket also taking cricketing talent to a new level. “It allows sports lovers to exhibit their talent and perform under pressing conditions of crowds. It will help players to grow mentally tough,” said Mr. Parra.