President’s Desk

On the bright and breezy Bank Holiday of May 26, 2025, a vibrant crowd of nearly 70 enthusiastic participants and supporters gathered at Catford, South East London, for KPAE’s inaugural community cricket tournament. It was a day to remember—where cricket was the heart of the event, but the spirit of togetherness, tradition, and joy made it truly special.

 

People came from far and wide—Dorset, Birmingham, and across London—to be part of this landmark event. The energy was electric, and the cricket was competitive yet filled with camaraderie. From the young to the young-at-heart, players showcased flair, skill, and sportsmanship of the highest rank, bringing generations together through the game we all love.

 

A massive shout-out to Abhinav Mujoo ji, the force behind the tournament, whose planning and passion brought this vision to life.

 

Special gratitude to our hero scorer, Kamesh Kaul ji, for keeping the numbers tight and the spirits high, and our team of dedicated umpires — Amit Kachroo ji, Niradh Kaul ji, Pankaj Raina ji, Arun Damodaran ji, Sanjay Rawal ji, Sushain Sadhu ji, Neil Magazine ji, and Ramesh Wattal ji.

 

We salute Minesh Khashu ji, always the first to commit, the last to leave, and often travelling the furthest just to play and contribute wholeheartedly.

 

No Kashmiri gathering is complete without the magic of home flavours. Huge thanks to:

 

Alka and Rahul Raina ji for their incredible Roth and Teher.

 

Sonia Kaul ji and Shipra Ogra ji for the delicious cakes.

 

Sunita Lahori ji, Alka Raina ji, Sonia Kaul ji, and Shakini Bamzai ji for the irresistible pakora and chai, which warmed us all between innings.

 

Kapil Dhar ji, Rashmi Radzan ji and Ankur Zadoo ji for their quick witted kashmiri commentary, interspersed with some amazing singing. 

 

And last but not least our kids (including our dil ka tukda Anya), who supported parents, siblings, teammates with such might that even the weather gods chose to play fair!

 

This was more than just a cricket match—it was a celebration of community, culture, and connection. The success of this tournament sets the stage for many more gatherings to come. You can enjoy some of the pics from the day here