Cricket, Debate, Drama and acting is my passion. Since childhood, I like Cricket more than anything. I wanted to be professional cricketer but could not. That passion and love for cricket is still in my DNA and came out when got a chance to organize InfoStretch Cricket League (ICL)
One day we saw an E-mail from one of the organization to invite us to play Cricket Tournament. We thought of sending one team but we have many players and was confusion whom to select in final team. During discussion and idea came into our mind that why don’t we organize such tournament and create a common platform of sports for all IT companies of Ahmedabad. We immediately started working on this to make our idea reality, formed a committee of four members; Myself, Nilesh Ruparelia, Gaurav Vakharia and Jayendra Mori. Started contacting known IT companies and tried to convince them to take part in this Tournament. Somehow succeeded to convince 4 IT companies, two Non-IT companies and we decided to send two teams from InfoStretch to make total 8 teams. After lots of hurdles and difficulties, we manage to organize ICL-I and completed the event successfully. This was the 1st experience of Sports event management in life. We all four members played many tournament s but had never organized such tournament. The best part is that my all 3 committee members were part of the playing eleven too and still manage to work for organizing the event, which was really wonderful.
The exciting experience of ICL-I was very useful in making ICL-II bigger and better. This time we have decided to take 16 teams and succeeded to convince 14 IT companies within the timeline without much effort. This was possible due to successful ICL-I. This time all teams were from IT organizations, no. of matches were as much as 32 and schedule was as long as for 6 weekends. It was really tough to manage Ground staff, Different vendors, team’s excitement and aggression and finance and overall satisfaction of al participation teams. We all 4 members have not enjoyed a single week end since last 3 months. Initial weekends were spent on preparation and training of team and latter on actual event.
The Final day and prize distribution ceremony on 24th Feb 2013 was a very special day. It was the last day and also a measure of all our great work and passion. The success of this day was the indication of success of entire tournament and event. It was a great day because we have decided to do charity of all fund generated out of this event, a good cause of the event. It was also important day because I met my school friends Sandip after almost 22 years, though we were in touch through Facebook and LinkedIn. We three school friends were together at the ICL-II final, Dr Vijay Shah, Sandip Pradhan and I; a great memory to cherish! Sandip and Dr, vijay were guest of honor invited as a Lakshya Sports NGO member and I was the organizer of ICL-II. What a coincidence J
Finally ICL-II is over. It is not the end but a break. We will come with better, bigger and more exciting ICL-III and promise to make this platform more and more exciting.
Thanks to my fellow committee members and all associated with ICL directly or indirectly.
