Lotus Cup 2026
Stand With Them From the First Ball
This editorial column is contributed by Victor Gurung, Chief Head of Media, Bhutan Cricket, Lotus Cup 2026.
I have often wondered why cricket, of all sports, has the power to stop us mid-step, mid-thought, mid-life. Why a single post, a score update, or a familiar yellow and orange jersey can make grown men smile quietly, make conversations pause, make eyes look up at the sky for a second longer than usual. Over the years, I have realized it is because cricket in Bhutan is not just a game. It is memory. It is identity. Furthermore, it is unfinished dreams finding new life.
Women’s cricket in Bhutan did not begin with comfort or certainty. It began with courage. Around 2006–2007, when the idea itself felt fragile, young girls chose to believe in something they could not yet see. There were no proper grounds, no guarantees, no applause waiting at the end. There was only the willingness to show up, again and again, with hope stitched into their hearts.
In 2009, when Bhutan’s women made their first international appearance at the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship in Malaysia, it felt like a quiet miracle. Not loud, not dramatic, but deeply meaningful. That first step onto the international field was not about winning or losing. It was about belonging. About telling the world, and perhaps ourselves, that Bhutan’s daughters had arrived, and they were here to stay.
The years that followed tested that belief. At home, local tournaments grew, talent surfaced everywhere, and potential shone brightly. Our players performed well abroad, but when they returned, reality awaited them with limited exposure, challenging pitches, and the absence of a true home ground. Talent was never missing. What was missing was an environment that could match their ambition. Many continued anyway, training harder, adapting faster, learning to fight conditions as much as opponents.
Then came a moment many of us had waited for without daring to say it out loud.
The inauguration of the Gelephu International Cricket Stadium changed something fundamental. For the first time, Bhutan cricket had a home—not just a facility, but a place where dreams could finally settle. A ground where our women could bowl on proper wickets, hear cheers that were theirs, and feel the pride of playing at home. What followed felt almost unreal—back-to-back international tournaments, historic victories, world records, and a confidence that announced Bhutan cricket had entered a new chapter.
Yet, the most powerful moments never appeared on scorecards.
They appeared in quiet smiles. In former players who are now working in offices, companies, institutions, who stop scrolling when they see a Bhutan Cricket post. Who pause their car for a second longer. Who look up at the night sky and feel something they cannot explain. Once, it was their dream. Today, someone else is living it. That quiet happiness that is cricket in Bhutan.
Now, as we host the Lotus Cup 2026, welcoming Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia—strong, respected teams in women’s cricket, I feel a deep sense of responsibility. Hosting is not just about organizing matches. It is about presence. About the heart. About standing with our players when it matters most.
These young women are not asking for praise. They are giving everything they have, time, energy, and sacrifice, so they can represent Bhutan with dignity. Too often, we have waited for victories to cheer. Too often, we have noticed them only when records were broken. This time, let us change that.
Let us support them from the first ball. Let us be there before the win. Let us show them that belief does not depend on results. Do not let the heat keep you away. Do not let routine become an excuse. Because as a host nation, our presence matters. Our cheers matter. Our belief matters.
Our women are strong. They are respected beyond our borders. Other nations admire their discipline and resilience. And if the world can recognise their worth, surely we can stand proudly beside them. As hosts, let us also cheer for Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia. Let them feel not just the beauty of Bhutan’s landscape, but the warmth of its people. Let them leave knowing that Bhutan hosts with grace, humility, and heart.
This is a continuation of a journey that began years ago with a simple belief. Let us come together. Let us stand together. And when the first ball is bowled, let the world feel it the heartbeat of Bhutan.