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BCCI has banned Services from this year’s Ranji Trophy cricket season. The step against services was taken after they pulled out in the last minute from a match to be played with Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar citing security reasons.
BCCI secretary N Srinivasan in his statement said,"The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) cricket team was scheduled to play a Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at Srinagar from November 3 to November 6 2009.”
"However, the SSCB forfeited the match, having expressed its inability to send its cricket team to Srinagar. The SSCB has therefore been disqualified from participating in the 2009-10 edition of the Ranji Trophy, in accordance with the rules of the BCCI pertaining to Domestic Tournaments.”
President of J & K Cricket Association, Farooq Abdullah who was annoyed with the services team said that he was disappointed and would take the case to the Prime Minister and BCCI.
Abdullah said, “Services have negated what the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister have said, that Kashmir is normal. We have also had ambassadors coming here. This shows that some vested interests don`t want Kashmir to normalise.”
"I will take this up with the government of India. We were all waiting for the Services. We were here to welcome them. It looks very bad that of all teams, Services decided not to come. It shows a very bad image of India.”
"What is the government of India doing?" he thundered.
"They have been advised not to come. Now, we will have to find out, who has advised them not to come. This incident has got a much larger picture. It is about, is Kashmir normal or not?"
"Services are saying Kashmir is not normal. To hell with them for that...they want us to burn all the time so that they can remain our masters," Abdullah added.
It was only few days ago, Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi addressed people in Anantnag without bullet-proof glass which was a positive signal to everybody that situation in Kashmir is normal," he added.
"The wicket, outfield, pavilion and other faculties are world class. The turf and outfield has been approved by BCCI officials who had been visiting here for reviewing progress of work," he said.
J P Pandey, Assistant coach of Services said that the team was asked to prepare for the next game.
