11th All India Cricket Zonal Tournament(West Zone) Begins In Pune

Pune, 18th September 2023: Eleventh All India Cricket Zonal Tournament (West Zone) kickstarted in grand style at the Desire Sports Ground at Loni, Pune, with a spectacular event of inauguration ceremony that brought together all the cricket enthusiasts, dignitaries, department employees and players as one extended family.

11th All India Cricket Tournament is being organized by IFA(CC), Lucknow, under aegis of DASCB-Defence Accounts Sports Control Board, New Delhi & CGDA HQrs Office New Delhi, is scheduled to be held from October 4 to October 8, 2023 in Lucknow. The tournament will be played amongst the Qualified eight(8) teams in Men Category and will include representative teams from all five DASCB Zones. The Western Zone is particularly enthusiastic, with five teams participating. Since 5 teams are participating from West Zone, viz., PCDA (SC) Pune, PCDA(O) Pune, PCDA(NAVY) Mumbai, PCDA(SWC) Jaipur and PCDA(WC) Chandigarh, Round Robin League format has been adopted where each team will play a match with all other teams and the team scoring highest points as per BCCI Rules will qualify the grand national event of All India Cricket Tournament which will be held at Lucknow.

The esteemed Chief Guest of the event, Dr. Rajeev Chavan, IDAS, ndc, PCDA(SC) Pune, set the stage aglow with his presence. He was joined by a distinguished lineup of special invitees, including Sh. M. Saravanan, IDAS, IFA(SC) Pune, Sh. Praveen Ranjan, IDAS, Addl. Director, Dr. Mahesh Dale, IDAS, Addl. CDA, Sh. B.S. Kamble, IDAS, Jt.CDA, Sh. Vikram Rajapure, IDAS, DCDA, Smt. M.D. Puranik, IDAS, ACDA, along with other notable Officers and Staff.

The ceremony commenced with the induction of the event, featuring the symbolic gesture of handing over potted plants and mementos to the special invitees, signifying the life growth and prosperity of the tournament.

A mesmerizing ‘Deep Prajwalan’ ceremony followed, where lamps were lit to illuminate the path of the tournament casting away darkness, gloom from COVID and ushering in enlightenment, environment full of life, lusture, enthusiasm and fanfare. This marked the beginning of a week filled with sheer excitement and cut throat competition.

11th All India Cricket Zonal Tournament (West Zone) began with a stunning display of unity and sportsmanship as teams from across the region participated in a vibrant and prideful March Past. Each team, led by their Captains and flag bearers, made their way onto the field in a colorful formation, proudly showcasing their team’s essence Solidarity, Unity and Identity. The flags of each team fluttered in the cool breeze in wee hours of morning, creating a captivating visual spectacle amidst the moist ground with drops of dews amidst lush greenery with surrounding hillocks of the Sahyadri. As the teams marched towards the center of the cricketing arena, they carried with them the dreams desire and aspirations of their department and their enthusiastic spectators.

Dr. Mahesh Dale, IDAS, Additional CDA, delivered the Welcome address, welcoming Chief Guest Dr. Rajeev Chavan, IDAS, ndc, PCDA(SC) Pune and emphasizing the significance of health and physical fitness in achieving mental well-being.

In his eloquent address, Dr. Rajeev Chavan, IDAS, ndc, PCDA(SC) Pune, conveyed his heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of once again organizing matches for the West Zone, reminiscent of the 10th All India DAD Cricket Tournament organized way back in 2018. He underscored the essential role of such tournaments within the department at the national level, emphasizing the importance of physical fitness as the cornerstone of a sound mind. Dr. Chavan passionately advocated that a healthy and rejuvenated mind not only enhances the working efficiency of Officers and Staff but also sparks the innovation of novel ideas inculcating, imbibing and adopting the smooth execution of assigned tasks, Sportsmanship, Teamwork, & spirit-de-corps, comradeship, companionship.

Dr. Chavan applauded the accomplished players of the teams who have participated in the Ranji Trophy earlier, elevating the level of competition in the sport. Drawing from his own cricketing experiences, he shared valuable insights and anecdotes with the players, offering his warmest wishes and encouragement to all participating teams. He reminded them that in the grand tapestry of cricket, both victory and defeat are integral threads, but the enduring spirit of the game must always prevail on Supreme.

In a solemn and heartfelt conclusion to his speech, Dr. Chavan extended a prayer of gratitude, seeking the benevolence of the Almighty. He implored the divine to shower mercy upon the players and to maintain favorable playing conditions throughout the course of the tournament, ensuring a fair and competitive platform for all.

The event was expertly coordinated under the guidance of Sh. Swapnil Hanmane, IDAS, ACDA, Pune, while Mrs. Suhana Arief served as the vivacious emcee, infusing the ground with enthusiasm. The commentary was provided by Dr. Anil Kudia, PCDA(SC) Pune, Sh. Brijesh Shukla, AOGE(C) Kirkee, and Sh. Mukesh Jha, NADFM, Pune. Umpires Sh. Amit Yadav and Sh. Avinash Dharmashali, both BCCI approved, officiated the match.

The tournament’s opening match featured a toss between PCDA(SC) Pune and PCDA(Navy) Mumbai. PCDA(SC) Pune won the toss and chose to bowl first. PCDA(Navy) Mumbai scored a total of 80 runs in 20 overs while PCDA(SC) Pune secured victory by 9 wickets, achieving a score of 81/1 in 9.1 overs. The Man of the Match was awarded to Shri Deepak Shilamkar, Vice Captain of PCDA(SC) Pune team.