Just not cricket: Srinagar waits,Services wont play Ranji match

It was supposed to be first-class crickets return to the Valley after five years but the Services team which represents the Indian armed forces...

It was supposed to be first-class crickets return to the Valley after five years but the Services team which represents the Indian armed forces has decided not to travel for Tuesdays season-opening Ranji Trophy match to Srinagar. No reason has been provided yet.

The Ranji Plate Division match was scheduled at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium,which last hosted a one-day international against West Indies in 1986. The last Ranji game in Srinagar was in 2004 against Orissa. Haryana is scheduled to visit for a match starting November 10.

We are not going to Srinagar for the opening match. We have been told to prepare for the next game, J P Pandey,assistant coach of the Services,told The Indian Express today. When contacted,J&Ks skipper Vinayak Mane,who played for Mumbai until last season,said he learnt today that the opposition would not turn up.

I dont know why Services isnt travelling to Srinagar. If security was the problem,they should have raised the issue since BCCI released the schedule long ago. Its a big for cricket in the Valley. The pitch in Srinagar is newly laid and there was excitement here. This match would have been a big boost for cricket here, he said.

The J&K Cricket Association is still keeping its fingers crossed. We havent got any intimation from either the BCCI or the Services board so we dont know whats happening. We hope they will land here in the morning, said J&K Cricket Association secretary Saleem Ahmed Khan said.

Our president Farooq Abdullah is aware of the situation and will be at the ground tomorrow morning. The umpires are here,the match referee is here,and some television cameras are here. If Services dont come here,they will be the losers,not us, Khan said.

N Srinivasan,the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India,said action could be taken against Services if they forfeited the match. In case Services dont travel,J&K will get a walkover. After that,we will go by the rules and see what decision we can take on this issue. Action will be taken according to our rules, he said.