Patna: The fifth season of the Casa Picolla School Cricket League (Under-15), organised by Turning Point, commenced with a grand trophy unveiling ceremony held at a hotel in the capital city of Patna.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Bihar Players Association President Mrityunjay Tiwari, Director of Rize Coaching for IIT Dhananjay Singh, Ward Councillor and Patna Municipal Corporation Empowered Committee Member Indradeep Chandravanshi, Casa Picolla CMD Rajesh Sharma, Medimission Hospital Director Rajiv G, Turning Point Director and Organising President Vijay Sharma, former cricketer Saurabh Chakraborty, League Convenor Sumit Sharma, and Sardar Patel Sports Foundation General Secretary Naveen Kumar.
Promoting Grassroots Cricket
Speaking at the event, Vijay Sharma, Managing Director of Turning Point, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to fostering talent at the grassroots level. He noted that the league aims to support young players from Bihar, promoting cricket alongside other sports in schools.
The formal commencement of the league is scheduled for 15 December, starting with selection trials. Trials will be conducted across four to five venues, and 12 teams will be formed for the tournament. Each team will be associated with prestigious colleges and universities across the country. Co-sponsors include Open Minds – A Birla School, Danapur, Medimission Hospital, Agastya Classes, and Rize Coaching for IIT. Franchise owners will provide coloured kits to all participating teams, modelled on the Indian Premier League (IPL) format.
League Structure and Awards
The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format with T20 matches. Daily “Man of the Match” awards, along with trophies for the winners and runners-up, will be complemented by individual honours such as Best Bowler, Best Batsman, Man of the League, Best Wicketkeeper, Best Fielder, and Emerging Player awards.
Casa Picolla CMD Rajesh Sharma emphasised the company’s commitment to fulfilling its social responsibilities by supporting this league and nurturing sports talent in Bihar.
Eligibility and Selection Trials
Only schoolchildren from Patna district are eligible to participate in the trials. Participants must bring their Aadhaar card, birth certificate, school enrolment certificate, and photographs. Players who competed in the previous season and remain eligible will be given priority.
Organising Committee and Contact Information
To ensure the league’s success, an organising committee has been formed. Vijay Sharma will serve as President, while Naveen Kumar of the Sardar Patel Sports Foundation will act as Organising Secretary, and Saurabh Chakraborty will oversee technical aspects as Technical Director. Sumit Sharma will manage the trials and coordinate activities.
For further details, interested individuals can contact Coordinator Sumit Sharma at 9386760620 or Organising Secretary Naveen Kumar at 9113311313 and 7782868048.
The ceremony concluded with announcer Ajay Ambasth hosting the proceedings.
