The International School Cricket League (ISCL) was conceived by City Montessori School, Kanpur Road Campus, with a visionary purpose: to transform the spirit of sport into a platform for education, unity, and peace. What began as a humble inter-school initiative over a decade ago has now evolved into a prestigious international league where young cricketers from across continents come together to celebrate not only the love for cricket but also the deeper ideals of camaraderie, discipline, and global understanding.

Rooted in the CMS philosophy of “Jai Jagat” (i.e., Victory to the World), the ISCL stands as a living testimony to the belief that education extends beyond textbooks to prepare students for real life. It teaches critical life lessons through teamwork, fair play, and shared aspirations. Over the years, the league has witnessed the rise of remarkable talents, including CMS alumni Yuvraj Singh (Indian Railways, Ranji Trophy 2023) and Vipul Krishna (Bihar, Ranji Trophy 2023), whose journeys began on such pitches.

The vision behind this mega event is to–

• Use cricket as a transformative classroom that nurtures global citizens, i.e., individuals who learn not only how to compete but also to collaborate; who play not merely to win, but to grow; and who see in every match an opportunity to build bridges of peace, friendship, and shared humanity.

The ISCL 2025 seeks to embody the essence of sportsmanship as global citizenship, reminding every participant that while trophies may adorn shelves, true victories are won in character, compassion, and collaboration.

Objectives of the ISCL 2025

• To promote holistic education through sport:
  

Integrating physical discipline with intellectual and emotional growth, ISCL 2025 aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering strategic thinking, leadership, and resilience that transcend the classroom.

• To advance intercultural understanding and unity:
  

Bringing together young athletes from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Oman, Nepal, and leading Indian schools across the world, the tournament reinforces SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring inclusive participation and celebrating diversity through the shared language of cricket.

• To cultivate ethics, empathy, and peacebuilding through fair play:

Through adherence to rules, respect for opponents, and integrity on the field, ISCL 2025 promotes the values of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): shaping students into ethical global citizens who value justice and harmony.

• To inspire excellence and lifelong learning:
  

The league encourages students to pursue personal bests while understanding that every setback is a lesson, every challenge a catalyst for growth, and every victory a shared success.

• To honour the CMS legacy of global unity through education:
  

Upholding CMS’s commitment to universal brotherhood, the event aims to connect hearts and nations, nurturing a generation that will uphold peace and cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.

Event Overview

The 7th International School Cricket League (ISCL 2025), to be held from 13^th to 19^th December 2025, will host 16 teams (6 International and 10 National) in a League-cum-Knockout format across world-class CMS grounds in Lucknow.
 With over 250 young athletes and six matches daily, the event will transform the city into a global cricketing hub, echoing with the cheers of unity and the rhythm of youthful passion.

The Inaugural Ceremony will be graced by Mr R. P. Singh, Former Indian Cricketer and BCCI Selector, whose illustrious 2007 ICC T20 World Cup performance remains etched in India’s cricketing history. The league enjoys the steadfast support of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and features the inspirational involvement of cricketing legends such as Mr Nayan Mongia and Mr Rajeev Shukla.

What Participants Can Look Forward To

• A Global Sporting Experience: Competing against top school teams from diverse nations, fostering not rivalry but respect and shared learning.
• Cultural Exchange & Friendship Evenings: Exchanging intercultural dialogue and lasting friendships beyond the boundary lines.
• Leadership Recognition: Awards for outstanding captaincy, integrity, and teamwork; honouring character as much as performance.
• Legacy Moments: Playing under floodlights at CMS grounds where passion meets purpose, creating memories that inspire a lifetime.

In a world often divided by borders, ISCL 2025 reminds us that when bat meets ball in the spirit of brotherhood, every boundary hit is also a boundary transcended. As young cricketers take the field, they will not only chase runs and wickets but also embrace lessons in empathy, endurance, and equality.