Srinagar, Oct 03 (KNO): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), president Mithun Manhas on Saturday said Jammu and Kashmir has immense cricketing talent that needs to be nurtured and backed, while expressing commitment to helping cricket flourish across J&K and Ladakh.
Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of the five-day Irani Cup, Manhas highlighted the rise of Baramulla-born pacer Auqib Nabi, saying his journey to the Indian team reflected the hard work and talent available in the region.
“Auqib Nabi, who comes from Baramulla, has worked very hard to reach here. BCCI has given its full support to this association, and we have promised to give further support,” he said.
Manhas, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the BCCI wanted more players from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to emerge at the national level. “We want cricket to flourish in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and more and more players should come up,” he said.
He also pointed to the ongoing Irani Cup clash between Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India in Srinagar as a reflection of the improvement in the standard of J&K cricket. “You can see the way the level of J&K cricket has gone up. There is a lot of talent here. It just needs to be nurtured, and it needs to be backed,” Manhas said.
The BCCI chief also praised the Indian team for its latest title triumph, saying the side’s ability to handle pressure had been a key factor in its success. “The way they have performed this time is commendable. The way our team handles pressure situations, no other team in the country can do that,” he said.
He hailed India’s batting unit, saying the openers set the tone while the middle order finished games and lauded players for stepping up at crucial moments.
Manhas said the growing participation of countries in cricket is a positive development and welcomed the sport’s increasing global reach. He also said the contribution of former BCCI secretary Jay Shah to Indian cricket, including the development of the women’s game.
The BCCI chief said the latest success of Indian cricket should be celebrated by fans across the country and dedicated the achievement to supporters and soldiers who, he said, pray for and support the team—(KNO)