‘Proud that our performance brought happiness to fans’
We will try to set our house in order: Wazir

SRINAGAR: J&K Ranji team arrived to a rousing reception from Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, returning to Srinagar after putting their best ever performance in India’s premier domestic cricket in last five decades. Nine of the 15-member squad were felicitated by the association at their Srinagar headquarters.
Parvez Rasool, the J&K skipper, didn’t arrive as he had left to Mumbai from Baroda, where team played quarter-final against Punjab which they lost by 100 runs, to cater his personal commitments while Jammu based players, save for middle order batsman Bandeep Singh, were accorded reception at the JKCA’s Jammu headquarters.
Samiullah Beigh, Bandeep Singh, Adil Reshi, Mohammad Mudasir, Sajad Sofi, Wasim Raza, Obaid Haroon, Owais Shah and Umar Nazir besides team physio Aijaz Ahmad and assistant coach Iqbal Ganai were received by JKCA treasurer Prof Manzoor Wazir,Joint Secretary Kashmir Wing GM Bhat,chairman selection committee Abdul Rouf and members of the working committee.
Beside hordes of supporters, and friends were present in big numbers at the JKCA, to greet the team.
Seasoned all-rounder Samiullah was thrilled by the receptions and said it was a proud moment for the team and the state.
“It is absolutely great feeling to get this kind of reception from the fans, JKCA and friends from the media. We did our bit to drive forward J&K cricket and thank Allah we have been successful in our efforts this time around,” a visibly happy Beigh, who was one of the protagonists of J&K’s successful run getting 35 wickets and scoring 353 runs.
Dashing opener Adil Reshi, who was J&K’s highest scorer amassing 663 in the season, echoed same sentiments saying, “This is surreal moment to see fans so happy and welcoming. We will make sure we will work hard to bring more laurels for our state.”
Wazir was all praise for the team and hoped that winning show continued in coming seasons as well.
“This is by far the best season for J&K in last 50 years. Boys have made a mark at the highest level and cricket talking heads have started acknowledge our talent. The performances by our boys have strengthened our belief that we have lot of talent and our players are second to none,” said the treasurer who has been handling the JKCA affairs ever since the multi-crore scam in the association surfaced.
Wazir said that the JKCA working committee will sit together to find ways to improve th standard of the game and try to set house into order.
“We will try to make sure better infrastructure is provided to boys and expose them to competitive cricket,” he said.
He emphasized that politics should be kept away from the sport.
“There is no place for politics in cricket. Once politics is kept away from the game, our cricket will surely touch excellence,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jammu based cricketers along with head coach Abdul Qayoom Bagow were received by the JKCA officials at Jammu airport. Qayoom said that credit for the successful season must go to the players who played as a unit and gave their 100% on the field to give fans something to cheer.
He also said that an award function will soon be held to felicitate the players which will be attended president

KR Desk