SRINAGAR, July 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) after holding Talent Hunt 2022 in various age groups (men and women) has identified cricketing talent even from far off areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as well. With such initiatives, JKCA is going to succeed in nurturing talent at the grass-root level. JKCA has now set an example in exploring hidden raw cricket talent.
This was stated by Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports Department during a valedictory function of JKCA’s Senior Men’s One-Day Tournament at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, here today.
Alok Kumar was the chief guest on the occasion and was accompanied by Anil Sharma, Controller of Examination J&K Service Selection Board
as the special guest, while former First Class Cricketers Abdul Rouf and Parvaiz Qaiser were the guests of honour.
PowerGrid was the sponsor of the final match. PowerGrid apart from its CSR responsibilities takes keen interest in promotion of sports and other allied activities. Kailash Rathore, Executive Director PowerGrid Northern Region-II along with Pinul Koul represented PowerGrid in the valedictory function.
Brig Anil Gupta, Member-Administration JKCA and Majid Dar, Incharge Cricket Development Activity JKCA were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Brig Gupta welcomed the chief guest with a JKCA badge, hat and a memento, while Majid Dar welcomed Anil Sharma with the same.
Abdul Rouf and Parvaiz Qaiser were also honoured by JKCA on the occasion for their tremendous contribution in cricketing field.
Speaking on the occasion, Alok Kumar lauded the organisers for holding the event in a befitting manner and said that
the brainchild of JKCA Sub Committee including Brig Anil Gupta, Member-Administration JKCA; Advocate Sunil Sethi, Member Legal Affairs JKCA and Cricketer Mithun Manhas, Member Cricket Operations and Development JKCA, this historic initiative of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, has unquestionably, explored hidden cricket talent even from the remotest areas of the Union Territory.
He further said JKCA has already produced International and IPL stuff in Umran Malik, Abdul Samad, Parvez Rasool, Ian Dev Singh and Shubham Khajuria etc, adding that with the initiatives like this, the time is ripe to see more and more Umrans blossoming at the National scene.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is committed to promote sports in every nook and corner of the UT and the initiatives like this are going to serve as catalyst in enhancing sports culture in the Union Territory. Apart from raising sports infra at all levels, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted its own Sports Policy for the promotion and welfare of outstanding sportspersons,” the chief guest added.
On the occasion Brig Anil Gupta said that the Talent Hunt was conducted at four zones in Jammu province and four in Kashmir province including Ladakh.
“After making a pool of 90 men and women cricketers in junior category and 75 men and women players in senior category in both the divisions of the Union Territory, JKCA organised Tournaments in each category at the twin divisions.
As part of this cricketing extravaganza, spreading over for three long months, five tournaments viz- Under-19 Women One-Day, U-19 Men One-Day, Senior Women One-Day and U-23 Men One-Day and the Senior Men’s One-Day Tournament today, have already been completed,” Brig said
He further said that this initiative has broken the myth that players from the headquarters only can make it to the UT teams.
Meanwhile, in the summit clash, Parvez Rasool’s magic overpowered brilliance of Henan Malik and Ramdayal to help JKCA Orange thrash JKCA Blue by 5 wickets.
Earlier, put into bat, JKCA Blue scored a modest total of 165 runs in 40.3 overs. Henan Malik was the top scorer with 53 runs, while Ramdayal contributed valuable 46 runs to the total. The duo made a good partnership of 90 runs to take the score to 144 runs, after JKCA Blue were struggling at 54/6, before Nasir Lone struck thrice in the same over to get rid of both these batsmen. Abid Mushtaq chipped in with 19 runs, while Jatin Wadhawan and Suryansh Raina contributed 11 and 10 runs respectively.
For JKCA Blue, Parvez Rasool was the pick of the bowlers, who took 4 wickets by conceding 28 runs in his 19.3 overs, while Nasir Lone captured 3 wickets. Umar Nazir bagged 2 and Shahrukh Dar claimed 1 wicket.
In reply, JKCA Orange, after their early hiccups, rode on a brilliant partnership between Parvez Rasool and Sheikh Usaid to chase the required target in 33.3 overs by losing 5 wickets to win the match by 5 wickets. Rasool was in sublime touch and showed stellar grit and tenacity, besides fluid grace and elegance to score splendid 77 runs, while Usaid contributed valuable 53 runs.
For JKCA Blue, Ramdayal, Sahil Lotra and Ritik Singh claimed 1 wicket each.
Ritik Singh was declared as the best bowler, Henan Malik was adjudged as the best batter. Abid Mushtaq was named as the best all-rounder, Asif Ramzan was declared as the best wicketkeeper and Ritik Singh was adjudged as the most promising player of the tournament.
The chief guest distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams on the occasion. He also honoured the umpires and other officials on the occasion.
