Srinagar: There have been many questionable decisions in International cricket that have now become iconic about a top batter been denied a career milestone due to untimely and questionable declarations by the Team Captains but never we have seen such an instance in Domestic circle and particularly in J&K cricket. That was till Yesterday when I noticed a major questionable declaration that denied a highly talented young batter from his second Double ton for J&K in the Under-23 CL Nayudu Trophy tournament.
From quite sometime, I have been away from local cricket owing to personal engagements but after I noticed a post on KSW regarding J&K’s resounding victory against Nagaland , I sneaked into scorecard. Scorecard showed total dominance against minnows but one thing that caught my attention was young batter Yawer Hassan being unbeaten on 159 run knock as J&K had declared its first innings on a total of 557/5. J&K went on to win match by an inning and 203 runs as Nagaland got out for 159 and 195 run total in their respective two innings. For J&K, Arnav Gupta with 168 runs and Yawer Hassan with 159 not out were top scorers.
J&K won this match within two and half days and it is not every day that a youngster gets a chance to score a double century in Domestic Cricket. A simple word from the management to batter would have done the job and he could have gone on to score his double century quickly if they were running short of a time, which wasn’t the case here. But somehow, the team management that is full of creepy persons currently owing to their allegiance to the BCCI installed J&K Cricket Association administrators, made it sure that young batter never get that chance.
During his knock, Yawer had scored 14 boundaries and hit five sixes, solidifying his ability of hitting big hits and to score quickly.
I have been covering J&K Cricket for around 18 years now and haven’t seen an instance wherein a youngster was denied of a milestone, so what if it was against minnows like Nagaland. Milestone is always a milestone. Instead I remember the days when, JKCA officials, who off course where elected ones used to call me and send me press notes highlighting every small and big milestone of cricketers. But these administrators particularly a one who is former Delhi cricketer just concerns about self boosting and doesn’t care about J&K cricket or its cricketers.
Further going into this year’s Stats, I found out that Yawer currently stands at Number 3 on the list of highest run scorers in U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy tournament. He has 482 runs in four matches with the highest of 219 not out. He averages astonishing 120. Second in the list from J&K is Qamran Iqbal with 429 runs at 10th spot and Musaif with 420 at 11th spot. The second spot is occupied by Yashvardhan Dalal with 522 and top spot by Shoun Roger with 524 runs. That means if J&K Under-23 Cricket team management would have allowed Yawer Hassan to stay in the middle in order to score his double ton, scoring further 41 odd runs, he would have been on the top of the table currently. A major achievement not only for the youngster but for J&K Cricket. When was last time we have seen a J&K batter, standing at the top of run getters list in domestic cricket. I think Never. A something to ponder upon for JKCA and its creepy management.
I don’t know this youngster or have met him ever, but feel for him as it is not everyday a youngster will get chance to score double century in India’s Elite Cricket tournament. I am aware about the wrong things going on in J&K Cricket and JKCA but never expected a team management playing such a low ball against a youngster. I hope people at the helm learn from these mistakes and in future take care about such small things which are cherished moments for some.
Meanwhile Here are Major Instances from International Cricket when Milestone was Denied:
Peter May, 285v West Indies Javed Miandad, 280 v India
AB de Villiers, 278* v Pakistan
Daryll Cullinan, 275* v New Zealand
Stephen Fleming, 274* v Sri Lanka
Adam Voges, 269 not-out vs. West Indies