The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today banned the Services team for the entire Ranji trophy season after it failed to turn up in Srinagar for a match against Jammu & Kashmir. The no-show, first reported by The Indian Express, prompted J&K Cricket Association president and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah to slam “vested interests” out to give Kashmir “a bad name”.

The Services team later apologised to the BCCI for the “administrative slip up” and sought new dates — it transpires that the team acted on an alert put out by the Military Intelligence after a security assessment, not corroborated by other intelligence agencies, warned of a militant plan to mingle with spectators and disrupt the match at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar.

The BCCI said it was yet to receive any official communication on the matter. “We have not received any apology as of now. As far as we are concerned, the decision has been taken and the matter is closed,” said BCCI secretary N Srinivasan.

At the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium, match observer Balbir Singh gave the home side a walkover after the Services team failed to show up.

The Services team, which represents the armed forces, decided not to travel for the Plate Division fixture, without giving any reason.

“This is much bigger than a cricket match. What message do the Services want to send out? Do they want to say Kashmir is not normal? If tourists can walk freely late in the evening on Boulevard Road, why can’t the Services team play here?” Farooq Abdullah said at the match venue. “I feel very sad today, and I want to cry.”

... contd.