SIKKIM CRICKET
ASSOCIATION FELICITATES SIKKIM HERMONITES
Revival of
Murray Cup and Kalooram Thirani tournaments proposed
Sikkim Hermonites Association President, SP Lamba, being felicitated by Sikkim Cricket Association President, Tika Subba, and ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha MLA, B. Khatiwada.
At a colourful function of the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA) at
Pakyong’s Amba village, East Sikkim,
yesterday (May 8, 2023), on the occasion of its 36th Anniversary, SICA
President Tika Gurung, while felicitating Sikkim Hermonites, said great
progress and achievement in the field of cricket in Sikkim has been partly due
to the firm foundation laid by Sikkim Hermonites in the ’80s and ’90s through
the annual Murray Cup Cricket Tournament.
The felicitation citation read:
“The Sikkim Cricket Association would like to felicitate and honour you for
your great contribution and dedication for the Sikkim Cricket.” The SICA “expresses
deep gratitude for your selfless contribution to the association since its
inception in 1987. Your tenacity and resilience saw us through the early and
challenging years of limited funding, infrastructure and manpower.”
While thanking SICA, Sikkim
Hermonites Association (SHA) President SP Lamba, said, “By honouring us today
on this special day we believe that the Sikkim Cricket Association has rightly
acknowledged the role of the Sikkim Hermonites in laying a firm foundation to
the cricket culture in Sikkim. We are grateful and thankful to the newly-formed
Sikkim Cricket Association team led by its President, Mr. Tika Subba, for
inviting us and honouring us on this special occasion.”
Soon after the formation of the
Sikkim Hermonites Association in 1984 one of our major engagements was the
starting of the annual Murray Cup Cricket Tournament.
Lamba pointed out that the Murray
Cup Cricket Tournament in Sikkim was initiated by Sikkim Hermonites in early 1980s
“in memory and honour” of Darjeeling’s Mount Hermon School Principal, Mr.
Graeme A. Murray. He said Murray “was an outstanding personality in Darjeeling”
and Mt. Hermon Principal from 1964 to 1979. “Mr. Murray was not only a great
cricketer himself but also taught cricket to most of the Sikkim Hermonites who
took part in the Murray Cup,” SHA President added.
“Sikkim Cricket Association has
done much for development of cricket in Sikkim in the past so many years and
decades. It still has many miles to go before cricket becomes as popular as
football in the State. If given the opportunity the Sikkim Hermonites
Association is ready and willing to help the Sikkim Cricket Association on this
matter,” Lamba said.
He said, “In the interest of further
development of cricket in Sikkim we would like to propose the revival of the
Murray Cup and Kalooram Thirani Memorial Cricket Tournament in Sikkim.”
Ruling party MLA from Rhenock, East
Sikkim, B. Khatiwada was the Chief Guest on the occasion. He said he would do
his best to persuade the State Government to help with infrastructure
development at the recently-formed Amba Cricket Academy.
The 36th Foundation Day
celebration was organized by SICA in collaboration with Pakyong District
Cricket Committee and Amba Cricket Academy.
