KOTTAYAM: Come September 9, Puthupally will witness an unusual cricket contest. Christian priests from across the state and denominations is set to swap the pulpit for the pitch, as they come together to battle it out for the inaugural Kathanar Cricket League.
Organised by the Kathanar Cricket Club (KCC) under the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanassery, the first edition of the tournament will bring together priests united by the passion for cricket while providing a platform to foster fellowship and camaraderie beyond the Church.
Priests from the Syro-Malabar, Latin Catholic, Syro-Malankara, Malankara Orthodox and Mar Thoma denominations will participate in the tournament. Deacons from St Thomas seminary, Vadavathoor, have also been invited to take part.
The tournament will be held at Bails Arena Oval Cricket Turf, Puthuppally, on September 9 and 10.
Fr Dominic Muriyankavunkal, captain of the Changanassery team, said the idea for the league emerged from the Changanassery Syro-Malabar Archdiocese, where a group of cricket-loving priests formed a club and began playing the sport. “The initiative subsequently inspired other dioceses and Christian denominations to form their own teams, eventually leading to the idea of a common tournament,” he said.
The only eligibility criterion is that players should be priests. An exception has been made for the deacons from St Thomas Seminary, who have been given a special invitation to participate.
16 teams to participate; winners to get Rs 50,000 cash prize and trophy
The tournament has attracted considerable interest, with 25 teams initially expressing their willingness to participate. However, the organisers limited it to 16 teams to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.
“The tournament will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Kerala Cricket Association, and KCA-approved umpires will officiate the matches,” Fr Dominic said.
Teams representing dioceses stretching from Thalassery to Thiruvananthapuram will participate in the tournament, which is open to spectators, with no entry fee. The winners will get a cash prize of `50,000 along with the KCL trophy. Cash prizes and trophies will also be awarded to the top four teams, while individual awards will be presented to the best batter, best bowler, player of the tournament and best wicketkeeper.
For the organisers, however, the tournament is about more than competition. They see cricket as a means of bringing priests from different denominations together in an informal setting and strengthening bonds of friendship. “It is cricket that unites us. Since we are priests, there will be a gentle approach,” Fr Dominic said.
The initiative also seeks to encourage priests to remain physically active and develop friendships beyond the increasingly digital world.
“Today’s generation limits much of its entertainment to digital screens. The tournament aims to promote physical fitness among priests. Priests should also experience the joy of friendship not just through the digital world, but in the real world,” he added.
Game on!
Some of the teams participating in the Kathanar Cricket League:
Shepherds XI (Malankara archdiocese, Tiruvalla)
Disciples Kanjirappally (Kanjirappally diocese)
Faith Strikers Kottayam (Orthodox priests)
Mar Thoma Royals (Mar Thoma priests)
Pala Achayans (Pala diocese)
Thrissur Pathiri Gadies (Thrissur Archdiocese)
Malabar Fighters (Thalassery Archdiocese)
Little Flower Cricket Team (Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese)
