Kashmir cricketers protest in Srinagar, demand resumption of game in Valley

Srinagar, July 5 (ANI): Cricketers in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday staged a protest against the state cricket association and demanded resumption of cricket activities in the Valley, that were suspended due to alleged scam in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

Young cricketers of the All Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Players Association raised slogans against the state cricket authorities for discontinuing cricket activities.

Mushtaq Ahmad, one of the protestors, urged the authorities to resume cricket activities and accused them for not starting it despite of getting adequate funds.

"We are protesting as no cricket activity is taking place. Around Rs. 40 lakhs has been sanctioned for the tournament. The office bearers are taking their salary and are least bothered about the young cricketers. We want resumption of cricket activity," Ahmad said.

The opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti had levelled allegations against the president of JKCA Farooq Abdullah in connection with a multi-crore scam surrounding the sport body.

According to media reports, the scam allegedly involved siphoning off funds to the tune of around Rs. 250 million, meant for cricket, by creating bogus accounts.

Two JKCA officials, including the general secretary Ahsan Mirza, and chief administrative officer Saleem Khan, were ousted from the board and ordered to deposit the maximum amount of the money, which had been siphoned off earlier this year. (ANI)