Amid the ongoing craze for T-20 cricket in the valley, a local cricket body in the HMT Zainakote area here has organised a Test match series to review the longer format of the game for the cricketers.
A senior member of the Cricket Association Zainakote, Shabir Ahmad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the initiative is aimed at introducing young cricketers towards the longer format of the game. At the initial level, we have roped in four teams, he said.
“This is for those aspiring cricketers who want to make cricket their career and for them, we have introduced the Test series so that they can excel at the bigger platforms,” Shabir said.
Touseef Ramzan, a young player, said while they take part in trials during the major events of the JKCA or BCCI, they struggle to make their position due to the adoption of an aggressive approach while playing T-20 cricket.
“It is a good opportunity for us and we are thankful to the organisers for conducting the test series. This will help us in major cricket tournaments of JKCA,” he said.
Similarly, Aqib Ahmad Lone expressed delight saying he is playing the Test match for the first time in his life. In the absence of the longer format of cricket, many players don’t qualify for trials during major events, he said, adding, “This format of the game will show how much cricketing stamina one has. We also know that we lack at multiple levels; so a format like this will help us improve in those areas.”
Bilal Ahmad Lone, one of the organising members of the tournament and also a member of the cricket body, said, “We want young cricketers to excel in the longer format of the game. The shorter format of the game will not help them in competing in the longer formats of the game.”
“In T-20 cricket, boys start hitting from ball one and they hardly know of containing the game. We took this initiative to introduce cricket lovers of our area to play the Test matches so that they understand the game well. We are also planning to accept the participation of cricketers from other adjoining areas,” Lone said—(KNO)