Ruination of Kashmir’s lone Cricket Stadium likely due to I-Day celebrations

Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 07 (KNB): The Kashmir Valley’s lone Cricket stadium Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium is all set to host the 72nd Independence Day celebrations on 15th August following the venue of such celebrations was changed from Bakshi Stadium in January this year on the occasion of Republic Day in context of security purpose.
Despite a direction from the Supreme Court that none of the autonomous BCCI-sponsored playing fields in the country should be disturbed for any reason by the government. Sources told Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) that the stadium known for the cricketing activities has faced several damages due to the recent celebrations on the occasion of Republic Day as such 15th August celebrations can damage further stadium especially the turf caretaking by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.



Interim President of BCCI, Vinod Rai, denied having any information about the SKICS having been taken over by police and security forces. “I have no such information. You should speak to JKCA and the government there,” Mr Rai told a reputed news portal ‘The Quint’ over telephone.
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) schedule this year the domestic cricket season will begin from September, the announcement of schedule has sent worrying waves to the caretakers as it won’t be possible for them to prepare the turf in short span of time. The stadium has been already taken over by police and security forces for the upcoming Independence Day parade on 15 August.
“Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium should be renamed as Kashmir’s Political Theatre for no cricket tournaments or sporting events are held here. There are only political rallies held under fortified security arrangements. Each time the stadium is vandalized!” writes Gowhar Geelani a netizen on Twitter. (KNB)