Two J&K teams arrive for match against HP in Ranji Trophy: Report

New Delhi: A drama folded outside the HPCA stadium when a separate Jammu and Kashmir team reached the venue in order to represent the state in the Ranji Trophy match.  

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the team that was playing inside the stadium was of the warring faction of JKCA, led by state sports minister Iqbal Ansari, who was recently elected president.

Meanwhile, another team selected by the faction led by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was the one that created the ruckus outside the stadium. Reports added that the Abdullah-led faction held a brief protest with team managers Rajiv Pandita and Rohit Malhotra accusing the HPCA of bias.

Copies of court was also produced that stated the not allowing them inside the venues was illegal.

HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma said that they have nothing to do with JKCA’s internal matters and the match observeer allowed the team, recognised by the BCCI, to play.

In the end, the Ansari-led faction team was allowed to play and J&K reached 274 for the loss of eight wickets by stumps with Pervez Rasool scoring a ton.

Earlier also, in the Ranji Trophy match against Kerala held at Srinagar on October 1, the warring factions had named two separate squads. Former Delhi player Mithun Manhas was named captain of one team, while the other one was led by Rasool. In the end, the Manhas-led team took the field with Rasool as his deputy.