There is some good news for sports enthusiasts of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The excitement is unprecedented among fans as several renowned international cricket players including Kevin Pietersen, Harbhajan Singh, and Aaron Finch have arrived in Jammu recently for the four-match Legends Cricket League. This is one of the greatest sports events of the last two decades which includes national winter games held in Gulmarg.
The Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, which last hosted an international match in 1988 between India and New Zealand, is the venue of the League which promises to be a thrilling event. Tickets at the 20,000-capacity Maulana Azad Stadium are already sold out, highlighting the immense anticipation among the crowd. Let that sink in, all 20000 tickets getting sold in advance. That goes to show that the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir have always loved their sport, be it football, hockey or Cricket. There is no dearth of cricketing talent in both Kashmir valley as well as Jammu region. We have produced cricketers like Pervez Rasool and Umran Malik who have made it big on the national scene. Umran Malik is currently the fastest bowler in India. The tearaway fast bowler always remains a first choice for any Indian Premier League team and has done remarkably well so far.
In order to provide unprecedented security, the authorities had deployed the commando wing of the J&K Police in and around the venue. The stadium was fortified with barricades, scanners, X-ray machines and metal detectors. A considerable number of police personnel and commandos oversaw security both inside and outside the stadium.
Strict regulations were in place, prohibiting the entry of certain items like water bottles, food and inflammable substances. The organizers had set up food stalls for the convenience of the spectators.
Coming to Kashmir valley, we have had almost four decades to wait for any international match. Kashmir deserves an international match as much as any other place. The current Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is serious about overhauling the sports infrastructure in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Hosting an international match in Kashmir valley would go a long way in taking the sports infrastructure of the valley to an entirely new level.
