Cloud of Uncertainty Over Cricket Season as Football Super Division Kicks Off on Oct 26

The Silchar District Sports Association (DSA), the autonomous body governing much of Cachar district’s sporting activities — finds itself in a scheduling crisis this year.

October 5 (today) is usually the time when the cricket clearance (transfer window) closes, clubs start preparing for the new season, and players begin charting their calendars. Local tournaments serve as talent pipelines, with standout performers often finding their way into state squads for national tournaments.

However, this year, October’s unpredictable rain isn’t the only exception – football season is the other curveball. The prestigious Super Division Football League, won by India Club last season, is set to begin on October 26, effectively overlapping the cricket calendar.

It’s worth noting that Silchar DSA was mired in a prolonged political tussle through much of the summer, a period when the rest of the country was in full football swing. Elected Secretary Atanu Bhattacharjee was ousted and later reinstated following court intervention.

“Look, we held a meeting following the Governing Body protocols. The same was attended by Vice Presidents too. There the clubs insisted that they don’t want to play before the Durga Puja or festive. So, priorisitising the welfare of clubs, we weren’t left with any other options,” said Secretary of Silchar DSA, Atanu Bhattacharjee.

He added, “I totally understand that because of the delay in conducting the football season, there will be a delay in starting the Cricket season, which means, we will have to extend our cricket calendar by a couple of weeks or a month.”

The overlap raises serious concerns for cricketers and clubs. Many fear that the cricket season could stretch into the monsoon months, when matches are routinely washed out. In recent years, several crucial division matches determining promotion and relegation have been abandoned due to rain — with results decided by a coin toss.

This practice has drawn widespread criticism, as clubs invest thousands of rupees to build competitive teams only to have their fate decided by chance rather than performance.

Apart from the Satindra Mohan Dev Memorial Stadium, where the DSA is headquartered, the association also depends on India Club’s ground to conduct matches. “We have already sent a letter to India Club requesting them for the ground. They have their events lined up and so, we are yet to attain the clarity on availability of their ground. If we get that earlier, we will start the season there,” asserted Secretary Bhattacharjee.

Cricket in India is more than a sport — it is a religion. The home grounds are sacred spaces where young cricketers nurture their dreams. These local tournaments are where talent is first spotted, before it ascends to larger arenas.

But when matches are decided by a toss of a coin, how fair is that faith? Can the next Pritam Das, Rajdeep Das, Prakash Bhagat, Rahul Singh, Samik Das, or Abhishek Thakuri ever be discovered if opportunity itself is left to chance?