‘We will request BCCI to bring matches to J&K’
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 12: NC vice president and NCLP leader Omar Abdullah today said that the oath-taking ceremony for the new Government is likely to be held on Wednesday after fulfilling all the necessary formalities.
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Speaking with reporters at Bakshi Stadium, on the sidelines of the first qualifier match of the Legends League Cricket, Omar emphasized that there is a procedure that must be followed before the oath-taking ceremony can take place.
“There is a procedure that has to be followed. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s Rule for the last seven years, and to end that, there is a process. It requires a note from the Cabinet, which then goes to Rashtrapati Bhawan and back to the Home Ministry,” he said.
To a question on the use of technology for expediting the process, Omar humorously recalled the 2018 political “fax fiasco” when a malfunctioning fax machine derailed attempts to form a Government.
“We once tried to form a Government using a fax machine, and it didn’t work. We would be doomed if we relied on that. There is a procedure that has to be followed.”
He added that after submitting the necessary papers to the Lieutenant Governor, there have been holidays in between.
“Today is the holiday for Dussehra, then there’s Sunday. We are hopeful that everything will be completed by Monday. We will finalize our arrangements by Tuesday, and the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held on Wednesday,” he added.
Omar said that it is good that Srinagar is witnessing such cricket matches, especially under lights in Kashmir.
“The excitement in the stands was incredible, with people clapping and whistling at every shot. Yesterday, the stadium was jam-packed, though today the crowd was slightly smaller. This kind of exposure is great for our local sportspersons, and I hope that in the coming days, our children will also play these kinds of matches here,” he said.
Omar spoke fondly of the game and some of his favourite players. “I don’t play golf, but I watch my father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, play. In cricket, I’ve always admired legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan. Among the current players, Virat Kohli stands out.”
“My heart fills with joy watching how they play,” he said and lauded Irfan Pathan’s half-century, which the Southpaw hit today.
“Their team was in a tough spot, but the Pathan brothers brought them to a decent total. Someone has to lose, just like in elections – one wins, and another loses. The same happened in the match,” he quipped.
Omar said that events like Legends League Cricket will expose local talent and create opportunities for them to showcase their skills.
He remarked that such events happening in Srinagar are a positive development, with public participation enhancing the sporting atmosphere.
He shared his excitement and vision for the future of cricket in the region. “It is great to see this kind of cricket in Srinagar, and the people are coming out with so much enthusiasm,” he added.
“We have been waiting for such opportunities, and I am hopeful that our youth will soon be playing this level of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Highlighting the need for developing a robust sporting infrastructure, Omar emphasized the importance of preparing the region to host high-profile matches in the future.
“Just like the IPL and other major cricket matches, we have to create good infrastructure for the sport here. We will work on that, and once ready, we will request the BCCI to bring such matches to J&K,” he stated.
In a light-hearted moment, Abdullah drew a parallel between the unpredictability of cricket and politics, saying, “One has to win or lose, just like in elections. But the key is participation and ensuring that you’re well-prepared for both outcomes.”
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