Srinagar: Former Ranji trophy cricketer and J&K Cricket Association (JKCA ) Incharge Srinagar has said that JCA’s focus is on to produce quality cricketers and tye ongoing multi-day tournament is part of that process.
JKCA had recently barred its registered players from participating in the unauthorised tournaments across J&K while its own JKCA talent hunt is going on in various age groups in both provinces of J&K.
JKCA had made it clear to the players shortlisted for the talent hunt to stay away from local unauthorised events while being part of the JKCA setup.
As part of the talent hunt, the two day format cricket tournament is going to start at Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium Sonwar from July 29 and same event will start in Jammu province one or two days earlier.
The event involves Under-23 and senior category cricketers who have been distributed into five teams each in both the provinces. Simultaneously four matches will be played with two in each province.
JKCA Srinagar Incharge Majid Dar termed event as historic one as it is after more than a decade that multi-day cricket tournament is being held by JKCA.
“It is historic achievement and when we launched this ongoing JKCA Talent tournament with our focus on conducting longer format events. It was first time ever that Under-19 age group players played in multi-day format event in J&K and it was historic milestone. While senior cricketers used to play in multi-day format events but it will be after around 16 years that such an event is being held in J&K again,” Majid Dar was quoted by Greater Kashmir ad saying.
“Five teams each in both the provinces will clash against eachother. Out of these teams best 15 players from each province would be selected who will then be part of the final between Jammu province and Kashmir province scheduled to be played in Srinagar from July 16 to 18,” Majid further was quoted as saying.
Before the multi-day format event, JKCA as part of its talent hunt programe held 50-over tournaments for Under-19, 23 and senior age groups in both male and female sections. The tournaments turned out as major success with thousands of spectators witnessing the final played at Sheri Kashmir Cricket stadium Sonwar.
Majid justified the JKCA order regarding participation of its registered players in unauthorised leagues.
“Due to local low quality matting cricket, the quality of our cricketers has got a major hit. Those players who hit centuries in these local leagues, struggle when they come to play in stadium on real turf wickets against quality bowling. Keeping that in mind and to produce quality cricketer’s and improve the skillset of our players we have made this decision regarding registered players who are part of our talent hunt tournaments,” Majid said.
“We aren’t barring general cricketers or have banned any cricket event. We just want to protect our registered players. In these local leagues the skill of a player gets a major hit and even there is major chance of them getting injured thus hampering their chances of making it to J&K team,” Majid further said.
JKCA top official in Srinagar said that Association is trying to build a road map to regulate local cricket in J&K.
“We are drafting a plan to regulate local cricket in J&K. Once that draft will be final we will issue those guidelines. That will be beneficial for J&K Cricket in longer run,” he added.