Srinagar hosts first Irani Cup match in four decades
Srinagar hosted its first Irani Cup match since 1983 amid tight security and renewed political support for cricket.
The Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar hosted its first Irani Cup match on October 1, 43 years after disturbances disrupted an India-West Indies ODI at the same venue. Jammu and Kashmir, last season's Ranji Trophy winners, face Rest of India in the five-day fixture. The J&K Cricket Association capped attendance at 5,000 and screened guests to prevent a repeat of the 1983 incident. BCCI chairman Mithun Manhas said the board will support JKCA to host bigger matches. NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani said the government intends to upgrade district infrastructure and eventually host IPL matches. Auqib Nabi, who made his India debut last month, is the latest example of Kashmir talent reaching the national side.
CricHubb Take
A successful Irani Cup could accelerate the timeline for restoring international fixtures in Kashmir if crowd behaviour and infrastructure hold up.