PANAJI
The Junior Cricket Championship (JCC) 2026, organised by the Oxford Cricket Club, will be held from February 25 to 28 at Arlem (Margao) and Chicalim (Vasco), bringing together some of the most promising young cricketers from across Goa.
The four-day tournament will feature three age-group categories — U-15, U-14 and U-13 — providing a competitive platform for budding talent to showcase their skills in a professionally managed setup. League matches will be played across two venues — Arlem Ground, Margao, and Chicalim Ground, Vasco — with 25-over fixtures scheduled in morning and afternoon sessions.
The third-place play-off and the grand final will both be held on February 28, promising an exciting culmination to the championship.
A total of eight teams will compete in two groups.
Group A: Dhadsakal Star, AK Rangers, Banjara Cricket Club and Ghumteshwar.
Group B: Oxford, MCC, Panjim Challengers and Porvorim Panthers.
The championship is powered by CricHeroes and is expected to witness high-intensity league encounters leading into the knockout stages.
JCC President Romeen Mulam shared the inspiring journey behind the initiative. He noted that the club was founded 20 years ago in Dubai under the guidance of Mukhtar Khadri, with a vision to promote structured cricket opportunities.
“While tennis-ball cricket auctions are common for adults, there was a clear gap when it came to organised opportunities for younger players. In 2023, I realised there was nothing like this for kids,” said Mulam.
He further revealed that the response has been overwhelming. “For this edition, we had 196 players register, even though we initially capped participation at 150. The enthusiasm shown by young cricketers and their parents has been truly encouraging,” he added.
Mulam also expressed gratitude to the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) and the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) for their full support in facilitating the smooth conduct of the tournament.
The organisers aim to make the Junior Cricket Championship an annual fixture in Goa’s grassroots cricket calendar, offering structured competition and exposure to emerging players.
