BACKING BELIEF | KASHMIR CRICKET’S NEW LIFELINE: Don’t Quit, Just Play: How a local brand revives hope among J&K cricketers
Srinagar, Oct 21: When Saad, the founder of Tramboo Sports, decided to step into the cricketing landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, it wasn’t with the intent of selling gear or chasing profit. His idea was personal, rooted in empathy to lift a generation of players who, despite their talent, find themselves lost somewhere between broken promises and fading dreams.
“We support them by providing cricket equipment and financial help,” Saad begins simply. But as he explains further, the effort runs much deeper than a corporate sponsorship deal.
Tramboo Sports has taken an unusual and bold route, signing local players on annual contracts that go beyond mere supplies. “The upcoming cricketers of J&K who have the talent but lack resources, we will be providing them with everything,” says Saad. “All equipment, no limitations. High-quality English willow bats, gear, and even if they want something from outside, we will pay for it.”
For him, the approach is holistic. “They shouldn’t lack anything. They just have to focus on their performance, on their practice. The rest of the backing will be ours,” he says with conviction.
A New Kind of Support
In a region where sponsorships rarely go beyond a couple of bats or a kit bag, Tramboo’s model stands out. “We have signed contract with Aqib Nabi,” Saad revealed. “No one gives money to anyone in Kashmir. But we decided to support our own players instead of signing an existing IPL player. We could have easily picked a big name for visibility. Instead, we chose to invest in those who need support.”
The brand has already begun with 15 players in one month, ten on an equipment-only basis and five under full financial and equipment support. The plan for the year is around 100 players.
Saad said that among those associated are Aqib Nabi, Ahmad Banday, and there were talks on with promising talents currently representing J&K senior team. The company aims to cover 70 percent of the current Ranji team over the next two seasons, extending to under-23 and under-19 players as well.
“We Want to Catch Them Before They Give Up”
But beyond money and material, there’s a deeper purpose, to rescue and motivate. “There comes a breaking point when players think of giving up. That is where we step in, to say, don’t quit. Even if you don’t make it big, we are with you. Don’t take tension, just play. When he feels he can’t make it big. That is what we want to change.”
He believes financial stability can be the difference between perseverance and burnout. “Money is a motivating factor. When players perform, brands notice. In the end, money keeps them motivated to perform and stay focused.”
Investing in Kashmir’s Future
What makes Tramboo’s effort remarkable is that it’s entirely homegrown reinvestment. “Whatever we are earning from the local market, we are investing it back into the local market,” Saad says. “We are investing in the future, the next generation of Kashmiri cricketers.”
For him, the initiative is not just about brand building but building belief.
“The significance of this is that other players should know there is someone looking at them. If they do good, if they have potential, they will have the backing. Otherwise, they feel isolated.”
In a cricketing ecosystem where young players often fall through the cracks, this homegrown initiative could be a turning point, not just in terms of sponsorship but in spirit.
At its core, Tramboo Sports is not just backing players, it’s backing belief, in a future where talent from Kashmir doesn’t fade into frustration, but finds the platform it deserves.
