SK stadium – the past and the future

KL Report

SRINAGAR

The Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium wherein the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address people on December 8, has its own history of lofty episodes of the past.

On 13 October 1983, on the same ground, for the first time a one day international was played between India and West Indies. India batted first, but the match was affected due to the protests by Kashmiris digging the pitch during the lunch interval. When match was resumed rain and dust storm affected the play, and India scored 176 all out. West Indies scored 108 for no loss in 22.4 overs before rain ended play, and West Indies were declared winners as the revised target was 81 in 22 overs. Desmond Haynes of West Indies, who scored 55 not out, was declared Man of the Match.

Cricket being played In SK Stadium File Photo

New Delhi based writer Sunanda Vashisht while recollecting that India West Indies match writes in a national daily, “Cricket was never just a game in Kashmir. Everyone knows the famous match of October 13, 1983, when India played West Indies in the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, the first international cricket match ever played in Kashmir. The Indian side was booed by local Kashmiri Muslims for every run they scored and West Indies was cheered gregariously much to their shock. The spectators who were overwhelmingly local Muslims threw stones and broken bottles at Indian cricketers. Eyewitnesses have told me that posters of Imran Khan were displayed prominently even though Pakistan was not playing.”

On 9 September 1986 second and last one day international was played at the Stadium between India and Australia. Australia won the game.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee File Photo

With the onset of militancy, the cricket ground was taken over by the forces and after 18 years, the ground was fully vacated by it in November 2007. It was in 2003, when at the same ground, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during addressed the gathering of some 20 thousand people and announced opening of Jehlum Valley route.

Now after 11 years, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address Kashmir from the same venue. BJP claims the rally would be attended by one lakh people on December 8.

What remains to be seen is will this Stadium prove to be a good omen for Modi and his ‘mission 44 +’

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1yZnjvG

via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj