Report: Sikkim Domestic Tournaments 2023
Curtains fell on the Sikkim Cricket Association’s 2023 tournament calendar with the conclusion of ‘D’ Division Men’s Tournament at the Sikkim Cricket Ground, at Mining on May 23.
The fourth-tier club tournament marked the last competitive event in the SICA’s calendar as the cricket season came to a close with the onset of monsoon.
The domestic season this year witnessed as many as 153 matches involving 101 teams amounting to 117 match days.
Through the season, close to 1,600 player registrations were received while 1,515 players participated in the 2023 season. Seven venues across the State hosted four-tier men’s tournament and a women’s club tournament.
Despite leaner window this year, we were able to hold all the tournaments successfully due to efficient scheduling.
For the first time, the winner and runner-up of ‘B’ Division, ‘C’ Division and ‘D’ Division men’s cricket tournaments were given away cash awards by Sikkim Cricket Association this season.
The State’s governing body for cricket decided to award prize money to the finalists of all the tournaments to encourage cricket clubs in the State.
The SICA previously gave the money to men’s ‘A’ Division finalists and women’s finalists only. The winner of ‘A’ Division men’s tournament pocketed Rs 2 lakh, and the runner-up team Rs 1 lakh while there wasn’t any prize money for the other three divisions of four-tier Sikkim cricket.
In the lone women’s tournament, SICA offers Rs 1 lakh for the winner and Rs. 50,000 for the runner-up.
The introduction of the prize money will go a long way in boosting the morale of players and clubs.
Earlier, Sikkim Cricket Association provided financial grant of Rs 25,000 each to ‘A’ Division clubs to prepare them for the tournament. The financial assistance launched this season intends help them grow and enhance sustainability.
We would like to congratulate all the athletes, district cricket committees, ground staff, members and support staff for the wonderful performance and support which has contributed to a successful season. The increasing level of competition and quality of players are testament to yet another successful year in the development of cricket in Sikkim.
This season also served as an important stepping stone for the emergence of many budding athletes and provided a level playing field for all athletes to develop and hone their skills.
As we look forward to the next season, the SICA will continue on its mission to encourage, improve and promote all aspects of the sports to enable Sikkim cricketers to compete successfully at the highest level.
Several programmes have been lined up for the rest of the year including cricket camps and talent hunt programmes. SICA is also in the process of acquiring lands for construction of additional cricket grounds, while works on indoor cricket training facility is underway along with other infrastructural works. The girls’ academy will be started soon to impart training to the selected students without jeopardising their education.
Also, high performance training for coaches will be held shortly along with different seminars and workshops, and grassroots cricket program.
SICA will also hold cricket tournaments for Under-16 boys and girls after the monsoon and next season, few tournaments will be added including a franchise-based T20 tournament and inter-district competition.