Mangaluru: After a gap of nearly a decade, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Mangaluru Zone is set to revive its inter-school cricket tournament, with the event likely to begin on August 6, subject to weather conditions and school schedules.

KSCA Mangaluru Zone Chairman Dr Shrikanth Rai said around 30 school teams from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu have already registered for the tournament.

Matches will be played across multiple venues, including NMPT Ground, Nehru Maidan, MGM College Grounds, a ground in Karkala, and possibly Father Muller Grounds in Mangaluru.

The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format, with each match being a 30-over contest. Students studying up to Class X are eligible to participate.

KSCA will provide the match infrastructure, including grounds and equipment, while participating schools will bear their own travel expenses.

Considering the ongoing monsoon season, the association has earmarked two reserve days for every match. If rain prevents play even after the reserve days, points will be shared between the teams.

Dr Rai said the initiative is aimed at reviving grassroots cricket and encouraging more students from the region to take up the sport. He noted that participation from Kodagu remains relatively low and expressed hope of expanding the tournament to more than 50 teams next year.

“We want schools to build and sustain their cricket teams instead of participating in just one tournament a year,” he said.

KSCA is also exploring fan engagement activities during the tournament in collaboration with Coastal Kings. The association plans to make the competition a permanent annual fixture by including it in the Mangaluru Zone’s official cricket calendar alongside league tournaments.