In a praiseworthy initiative under Operation Sadhbhavna, the Indian Army has been actively promoting women’s cricket, nurturing talent, and providing unique opportunities for players in conflict regions. The journey began in 2021 with a girls’ cricket championship in Kupwara, where six teams participated, marking the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Building on the success and aiming to inspire more participants, the Army expanded its efforts, and by 2022, the number of participating teams surged to 14. Recognizing the growing enthusiasm and talent, the ASEEM Foundation, a Pune-based NGO dedicated to youth and women empowerment in border regions, proposed the idea of conducting practice and exhibition matches for selected girl cricket players in Pune.
In 2023, during the annual championship, 16 talented girls were selected for a special tour to Pune. Under the Operation Sadhbhavna project, these players, along with their mentors, embarked on a journey from Kupwara to Pune and back. The tour, flagged off from Patahiri Garrison on December 12, 2023, is scheduled for 14 days, from December 15 to December 24.