It was supposed to be first-class cricket’s return to the Valley after five years but the Services team — which represents the Indian armed forces — has decided not to travel for Tuesday’s 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&K’s skipper Vinayak Mane, who played for Mumbai until last season, said he learnt today that the opposition would not turn up.

“I don’t know why Services isn’t travelling to Srinagar. If security was the problem, they should have raised the issue since BCCI released the schedule long ago. It’s 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 haven’t got any intimation from either the BCCI or the Services board so we don’t know what’s happening. We hope they will land here in the morning,” said J&K Cricket Association secretary Saleem Ahmed Khan said.

... contd.