Ranji Trophy: Services wrong in calling off game, says for J&K skipper

Former J & K captain and coach abdul qayoom says services' security concerns were unfounded as cricketers have nothing to fear in his hometown Srinagar

Ranji Trophy: Services wrong in calling off game, says for J&K skipper

Former J & K captain and coach abdul qayoom says services' security concerns were unfounded as cricketers have nothing to fear in his hometown Srinagar

Former Jammu & Kashmir captain and North Zone fast bowler Abdul Qayoom said his state's cricket fraternity was looking forward to their maiden first-class game in Srinagar in five years and Services' no show had been a terrible disappointment to those wanting to witness the Ranji Trophy game.

"Galat kiya Services team ne, nahin aake ke (Services did the wrong thing by not playing in Srinagar)," Qayoom told MiD DAY yesterday.

Qayoom, the most famous cricketing name from Kashmir, having played and captained the Ranji Trophy team from 1987 to 2002, is now the coach of the J&K under-22 team. He was in Mumbai last week for his team's match at the DY Patil Stadium, Nerul.

"I don't understand Services' concerns. Cricket is going on smoothly in Kashmir. There has never been any problem during a cricket game. We hosted the National inter-school tournament recently. Teams from Delhi and Punjab have come and played here. There was no security issue at all. The J&K Ranji Trophy camp is held in Srinagar. There are regular state-level and so many private tournaments," said Qayoom.

"Our performance too is encouraging. We topped the North Zone under-22 league last year and are in the Elite Division this season," added Qayoom.

Qayoom said BCCI's (Board of Control for Cricket in India) ban on Services for the current season would serve as an example and deter other teams from playing truant.

"The BCCI is right in banning Services. If no action is taken against them then other teams will do the same."

The J&K vs Services Ranji Plate Division match scheduled at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium was to be the first first-class game in Srinagar since 2004. The next fixture scheduled in Srinagar is against Haryana on
November 10.

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