Royal Rivals Nowshera shine despite ‘No Home Ground’
Nowshera, May 31: Royal Rivals Nowshera capped a remarkable campaign by defeating BCC Bimyar by three wickets in the final of the Area Cup Pringal Tournament on Sunday, with the victory also drawing attention to the lack of sports infrastructure in their hometown.
Powered by a match-winning knock from Akash Majeed, Royal Rivals chased down a challenging target of 189 in just 17.1 overs to emerge champions of the tournament.
After winning the toss, BCC Bimyar opted to bat and posted a competitive 188 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. Mohsin Manzoor anchored the innings with a rapid 54 off 26 deliveries, helping his side recover and set a formidable target.
Royal Rivals, however, responded with an aggressive chase under the leadership of Basit Hamid. Akash Majeed produced the defining innings of the final, scoring 78 off 44 balls to steer his team towards victory and earn the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, Mayoor Baba played a pivotal role with the ball, returning figures of four wickets for 23 runs from his four overs for BCC Bimyar . Tawheed Sofi made a valuable contribution, claiming three wickets for 15 runs for Royal Rivals Nowshera.
Despite ending on the losing side, BCC captain Naveed Khan was adjudged Man of the Tournament for his consistent performances throughout the competition.
The triumph carried added significance for Royal Rivals, whose players come from Nowshera, an area that does not have a dedicated playground. Speaking during the post-match presentation, an emotional captain Basit Hamid appealed to the administration to establish a sports ground for local youth.
Referring to the growing need for constructive avenues for young people, Hamid said that despite repeated representations, the demand for sports infrastructure in the area remains unaddressed.
The victory sparked celebrations in Nowshera, with residents hailing the achievement as evidence that local talent can excel despite limited facilities. Organisers said the success of the tournament reinforces the need for improved sporting infrastructure to nurture emerging athletes and strengthen grassroots sports in the region.
