Irfan Pathan and J&K cricketers requested to leave Kashmir as panic grips valley

Amid the prevailing tensions in the state, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has stopped the Amarnath Yatra and requested pilgrims and tourists to head back to their homes. However, it’s not just the tourism, but it has also affected the J&K cricket, as more than 100 players have been asked to leave the valley at the earliest.

This includes Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, J&K team coach Milap Mewada and trainer Sudarshan VP, who are all expected to return to their homes shortly. Irfan Pathan has been the mentor to the JKCA and has helped train the young and budding cricketers of the valley. One of them is Rasikh Salam Dar, who even made it into the Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2019 squad and played one game during the tournament.

Speaking about the request by J&K government, JKCA CEO Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari was quoted as saying by India Today, “Yes, the JKCA has advised Pathan and other support staff to leave J&K. They will fly out of the Valley on Sunday. Selectors, who are not from the region, have also been asked to leave for their respective places.”

Indian cricketer Parvez Rasool has also confirmed that the U19 and U16 cricketers training in Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium were asked to stop their activities and go back to their respective places. “We played a selection match on Tuesday. The juniors including U19 and U16 cricketers were undergoing training camp at the stadium. Apart from this, matches were going on at district headquarters. Selectors were visiting these places for talent scouting. But all these activities have now come to a sudden halt due,” said Parvez Rasool.

The selection process for the upcoming domestic season was underway

The JKCA was organizing selection matches for the upcoming domestic season and had formed eight teams out of shortlisted players from U23 and senior categories. Three teams each came from Jammu and Kashmir; while two teams were formed from the probables in senior cricket.

League round of Ranji Trophy is scheduled to begin on December 9. A total of 2036 matches are scheduled to be played in all categories in 2019-20 season and J&K were supposed to host some of the matches, but with ongoing tensions, any confirmation on the same is awaited.

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