Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 8:A cricket match of CK Naydu Trophy between Jammu and Kashmir and Goa at Hyderabad was stopped midway today due to a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order, marring the career of budding cricketers of the State.
Jammu and Kashmir Under-23 Cricket team was playing Goa at Guntur in Hyderabad, AP, this morning and Goa had scored 23 with one wicket down when match was stopped. The referee of the mach handed over Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s order copy to the manager of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket team and stopped the match.
The Manager of the J&K team was handed a Court order in which the team selection was stayed and the match was stopped midway. Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey of the High Court in his order (dated 04-10-2017) has directed the JKCA to restrain itself from sponsoring the squad for participating in CK Naydu Trophy under-23 till next date of hearing (October 25) after Hisham Saleem son of Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director Health Services Kashmir approached the Court as he was not selected. It was also directed that Manzoor Ahmad should not be selector of the under-23 team as his son was also eligible for selection and was finally selected.
However, Hisham again went to Court saying that the JKCA declined to accept the Court order copy. “Petitioner summits that the copy of the aforesaid order dated 04-10-2017 was served on the respondent-JKCA. However, receipt of the same was declined, leaving no option for the petitioner but to affix another copy of the order on the notice board of the respondent office and also sent a copy via facsimile and also via internet messenger”, read the court order.
The petitioner said that despite court order, the team was selected and sent for the tournament. The Court (order dated 06-10-2017) has issued a contempt notice to JKCA Secretary and Commissioner/Secretary Youth Services and Sports for not accepting the court order copy and going ahead with selection process.
General Secretary JKCA Iqbal Shah, however, told Excelsior that the final team selection was done after conducting trials. “On October 3, the J&K under-23 cricket team was sent to Hyderabad to play in the ongoing C K Nayudu Trophy”, he said.
However, one player, Hisham Saleem was not selected for the final squad, because selected players performance during the trials was better than him.
Shah said that the JKCA received the contempt notice Court order copy on October 7 that too through State Sports Council. He said that he has never declined to accept the court order (dated 04-10-2017) as it was never served to the JKCA.
“He is son of an influential person that is why there is such a hue and cry. If it would have been any poor boy, then it was not any issue for anyone. The selection process was fair and deserving players were given the chance,” Shah said.
The JKCA secretary said that because of one boy, who happens to be a son of an influential person, the career of 16 other young cricketers is at stake.
“We have also written to the BCCI that they (BCCI) are not a party to it and the JKCA would settle the issue in the High Court. We will clear our stand before the High Court on October 9”, Shah said.
Regarding Manzoor Ahmad, the JKCA Secretary said that he was not part of the selection process. He was the one of the three selectors but he opted out as his son, Momin Mansoor, was also appearing for trials. However, Momin was selected on the basis of merit and he has also remained Under 19 – cricket captain for J&K team.
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