3 players from J&K have so far represented India team, lack of Govt support pushing cricketers to wall: Gen Secy Ajay Kumar
Rehan Qayoom Mir
In a first, a Union Territory-level blind cricket tournament was organized at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, by the Cricket Association for the Blind in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking about the development, Ajay Kumar, the General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind Jammu and Kashmir, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the cricket tourney for the blind cricketers have been organized in collaboration with the J&K Handicapped association.
“So far, three cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir registered with blind association have represented India team, who include Irfan Ahmad Mir from Pampore, Umar Ahmad from Bandipora and Rohit Sharma from Jammu,” he said, adding that there is no dearth of talent in blind cricket in J&K, but the lack of government support has been depriving the youngsters from showcasing their skills.
Kumar further said the organizers left no stone unturned to make the necessary arrangements and conducted the event in the most befitting manner.
He further stated, the tournament comprised 30 players, all of whom were chosen from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and the main motive behind the tournament was to promote blind cricket in the Kashmir division.
“This is the first tournament of this year,” he said, adding it is a three-match series, and the finals of this tournament are scheduled for tomorrow.
“The first match has already been played between Team Yellow and Team Blue, in which the Yellow team emerged victorious by 102 runs,” he added.
Moreover, Kumar told KNO that the government has not extended its support to the blind cricket like other sports in J&K, adding that they have been provided the ground today for which they are thankful to Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gul.
He said that 64 players are presently registered with the association. “The government in other states are ensuring jobs and other benefits to the blind cricketers, but in J&K they have been ignored so far,” Kumar said and appealed the government to the extend its support to the blind cricketers and the concerned association so that the youngsters would get a proper platform to showcase their talent
