Reacting strongly to the ‘planted article’ in one of the daily newspaper of Valley regarding Bakshi Stadium being used for cricket activity, the women cricketers have hit back strongly by saying that these football custodians have no problem when it is being used for dancing and parades.
“Atleast we are playing cricket and not dancing and being part of the Police, Military parades. It is sports stadium where any activity can be carried out and not just their lovable football,” said one of the women cricketer Farkhanda Khan.
“It is totally planted article by a particular club and the custodians of football. I have a question for them why they remain silent (actually part of a functions) at Independence, Republic day and other non-sports functions when field is getting ruined under vehicles and jack boots every year. It clearly shows their intention this time. If you have courage raise voice that time and also at a time when a private football club owned by private business house is given free access to stadium facilities,” she added.
Abida Khan a cricket coach said that it seems these are the objections raised by the persons who have no sports background and they unnecessary want to politicize this noble event for the personal benefit.
“If they would be sportspersons then they wouldn’t have raised this issue at all. All over World single field is used for multiple purposes. In New Zealand, Australia Rugby fields are used for cricket purpose at same time. In USA Baseball field is turned into football field overnight. It is reply to them on technical part for raising objection on football turf being used for cricket,” Abida said.
“If we go into other details, can someone please ask them when was Bakshi stadium last time used for high level football activity. They have shifted almost all their football activity to readymade synthetic turf and still raise questions about its availability and use. Football in Valley is almost lost and when other persons want to do something noble they have problem. ,” she added.
Another top level cricketer wishing anonymity said, “These football custodians have restricted themselves only upto these concocted statements and on papers. On paper they claim big things while ground reality is totally different. Under Khelo-India football events where held all over State but at ground level nothing happened. Same they are doing now, under the garb of an activity at TRC they claim football is Numero Uno of JK sports. But that is not the case as fields all over State are not filled with football playing kids but cricket crazy ones,”. “When someone else tries to do something noble they have objections in that. We request JKSSC to do ground level audit of football activity as that will serve as reality check,”.
Pertinently J&K State Sports Council under its flagship project of State Cricket Academy started its first ever Women’s T 20 Cricket championship at Bakshi stadium on Saturday in which teams from all over State are taking part. It is first such event ever being held in JK for female cricketers.
