Guwahati groundsmen and curators to be rewarded INR 25 lakh

The Assam Cricket Association, on Sunday, announced a reward of INR 25 lakh for the curators and groundsmen of the ACA Stadium in Guwahati for their work to ensure that all three IPL 2026 games hosted at the stadium went ahead despite frequent rain.

All three home games of Rajasthan Royals at the venue - against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru respectively - were impacted by rain, which included a rain-shortened 11-over-a-side match against Mumbai Indians.

"Working under challenging weather conditions, the curator and groundsmen ensured that the pitches were prepared and maintained to the highest standards," the ACA said in a statement. "Their efforts were central to the smooth conduct of the matches and helped uphold the venue's growing reputation on the national stage."

ACA to host Under-15 girls tournament for North-East teams

On Thursday, the ACA also announced the North East Rising Cup 2026 (U-15 Girls), a premier regional tournament aimed at nurturing young cricketing talent across Northeast India. The tournament, conducted under the aegis of the ACA, will be held in Guwahati from April 19 to April 27, 2026.

The competition will feature eight teams divided into two groups:

* Group A: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland

* Group B: Tripura, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram

The matches will be played in a 35-over-a-side format, with league-stage matches followed by semi-finals and a final. The games will be played across two venues - ACA Ground, Fulung, North Guwahati and Judges Field, Guwahati.

The opening day (April 19) will witness Assam taking on Manipur, alongside Nagaland versus Arunachal Pradesh. The final match is scheduled for April 27, 2026, at Judges Field, Guwahati.