The Chhoti Kashi Shivratri Premier League Cricket Tournament, held as part of the International Shivratri Festival preparations, concluded yesterday at Paddal Ground, Mandi. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, the chief guest, officially closed the tournament.

In his address, DC Devgan highlighted the importance of sports in channeling youth energy positively. He emphasised that cricket serves as both entertainment and a tool to keep young minds away from substance abuse, promoting a healthier lifestyle. He also commended the Mandi police, particularly the Superintendent of Police, for their efforts in organising the event under the “drug-free Mandi” initiative.

The tournament made a comeback after 25 years, becoming a major attraction of the Shivratri fair. The DC expressed hope that it could be expanded into a state-level competition in the future.

A total of 32 teams participated, with the tournament running from January 31 to February 12. In an exciting final, Regional Eleven triumphed over Friends Eleven by six runs. Batting first, Regional Eleven posted 190/6 in 20 overs, while Friends Eleven managed 184/8 in their chase.

Key individual performances included: man of the match: Vikky (Friends Eleven); man of the series: Ganga Singh (Regional Eleven); best batsman: Akshit Sharma (Regional Eleven); and best bowler: Kushal (Regional Eleven).

Several dignitaries attended the prize distribution, including DSP Dinesh Kumar, Santosh Kapoor, Anil Sen, Shashi Sharma, Rajender Pal Raja, Amarjeet Sharma, and Dr. Arvind Behl.

The tournament successfully raised awareness about drug abuse prevention while providing a platform for budding cricketers in the district.