DODA, Aug 19: Muzaffar Brothers Aul (MBU) emerged champions of the prestigious All India 16th Gufran Memorial T20 Cricket Championship 2026, defeating Mintoo Brothers Kishtwar (MBK) by 75 runs in a thrilling final played at Sports Stadium Doda.
The tournament was organized by Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC) Doda and sponsored by the Indian Army, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), J&K Excise Department, Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd. and other organizations. The championship was also organized under the banner of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, with the objective of promoting sports, youth engagement and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
After winning the toss, Muzaffar Brothers Aul elected to bat first and posted an imposing 204 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Wahid Teeli produced a spectacular batting performance, remaining unbeaten on 119 runs off just 46 balls, while Nikhil Thakur contributed a valuable 33 runs.
For Mintoo Brothers Kishtwar, Harshit Saini. claimed three wickets, while Rohit Khichar, Ajit Bholu and Shubham Patwal took one wicket each.
Chasing 205, MBK struggled against the disciplined bowling attack of MBU and were bowled out for 129 runs in 14.5 overs, handing MBU a comprehensive 75-run victory.
Kamal Singh top-scored for MBK with 41 runs, while Pramod Chandila contributed 25 runs.
Aaqib More was the star with the ball for MBU, claiming an impressive five wickets, while Rithik Singh and Imtiyaz Left took two wickets each.
For his outstanding unbeaten century, Wahid Teeli was adjudged Man of the Match and received a cash prize of Rs 3,000.
Imtiyaz Left of MBU was declared Man of the Tournament for his impressive all-round performance throughout the championship and was awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000, sponsored by Zum Zum Sweets, Kud Wale.
MLA Doda (53-West), Shakti Raj Parihar, was the Chief Guest on the occasion, while Deputy Commissioner Doda Sh. Krishan Lal and Commanding Officer 10 Rashtriya Rifles Col. Rahul Katiyar were the Guests of Honour.
ADC Doda Anil Kumar Thakur, Chief Planning Officer Manesh Kumar, DySP DAR. Adil Rishu, CEO of the Tournament Prof Zaheer Abass Hashmi, Chairman YSCC Doda Naseer Khora, Cluster Head, J&K Bank, and Sr BJP Leader Ishtiaq Ahmed Wani attended the event as Special Guests.
The grand finale witnessed a massive gathering of cricket enthusiasts, with thousands of spectators turning up at Sports Stadium Doda to witness the championship decider.
In recognition of their outstanding performance, the winning team Muzaffar Brothers Aul was presented a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, sponsored by the Indian Army. The prize was presented by CO 10 RR Col. Rahul Katiyar and Major Dinesh of 10 RR.
The runners-up Mintoo Brothers Kishtwar received a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, which was presented by DC Doda Krishan Lal, ADC Doda, DySP DAR and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Patron YSCC Doda Manzoor Ahmed Butt described the championship as one of the biggest T20 cricket tournaments in Jammu & Kashmir. He said the tournament witnessed an extraordinary response from the public, with around 20,000 spectators witnessing the final matche of the championship.
He expressed gratitude to the J&K Govt, District Administration Doda, Indian Army, Doda Police, J&K Sports Council, sponsors, private organizations, media fraternity and cricket-loving public for their continued support in making the tournament a grand success.
Butt also highlighted the role of the championship in providing a positive platform to youth and promoting the message of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan through sports. He said that engaging young people in sports is an effective way to encourage discipline, teamwork and a healthy lifestyle while keeping them away from drug abuse and other social evils.
It is pertinent to mention that more than 70 teams from different parts of the country, along with one club from Srilanka, participated in the championship, making it one of the most prominent cricketing events in the region.
The tournament also featured the participation of former Zimbabwe international cricketer Christopher Mpofu, who served as the Brand Ambassador of the championship, adding further international recognition and glamour to the event.
The final match was officiated by Ankit Kumar Sharma and Aqeel Mirza as Umpires, while Milind M. Gore acted as the Official Scorer.
The successful conclusion of the championship marked another significant milestone for Young Star Cricket Club Doda in promoting cricket and providing a competitive platform to talented cricketers from across the country and beyond.