JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Jammu and Kashmir has churned out a lot of cricket talent in past.

Spinner Pervez Rasool made history by representing India earlier this year at an international level.

Then came a group of young cricketers from Uri, who are trying to make it big by taking part in local games in Pune. And now the state has taken a step forward empowering the sport in the valley by hosting it’s first ever T20 cricket tournament for women. This is making cricket fans go crazy with excitement.

The tournament is underway in Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium and 13 teams are participating in it. The Bakshi Stadium football ground also serves as a hockey turf, and on Wednesday some visitors turned up expecting a men’s hockey match. It is also the venue for the annual Independence Day parade.

A football field with cones placed around the centre line has been converted into a cricketing pitch with a 55-yard boundary and a mat has been used for a pitch. Some of the players who have participated in the tournament will be playing for the first time as a part of their teams.

The 13 teams that are participating in the tournament comprise nine from Kashmir, three from Jammu and the Ladakh Warriors.

Well, the count is more than that of Indian Premier League teams. Interestingly, for the team from Baramulla the only way to practise is to attend college, because none of them has the necessary gear ot kitt, they depend on the facilities available at the college. On the other hand, Ladakh Warriors, have rented cricket kits from a store in Leh at Rs 5,000 each.

To note, there are players who have played national tournaments and attended national camps but the lack of practice sessions and training camps is everyone’s biggest complaint. They are grateful, however, for opportunities such as the current tournament.

And as long as there’s a venue for them to practise, they are happy to make up for the inadequacies of their training. The Women’s Cricket Club of Baramulla, with all 11 players sporting headscarves, attributed their ability to take part in the tournament to their parents.

However, they are grateful for the opportunity which has come in the form of this tournament. CM Mehbooba Mufti promised her support to women’s sports and institutionalisation of the tournament. The CM also announced the allocation of Rs 45 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package to develop the stadium on international norms.

source: http://www.fresspressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Sports by FPJ Web Desh / October 05th, 2017