Ranji Trophy: Jammu and Kashmir to play opener without practice

Jammu & Kashmir will only reach Jaipur on Wednesday evening for their Ranji Trophy game against Team Rajasthan to be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium

In these days when teams are so meticulous in their preparation, the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team will go into their opening Ranji Trophy game without a single practice session at the venue, Jaipur.

Parvez Rasool could play a crucial role for Jammu and Kashmir in the 2017/18 Ranji Trophy season. (HT Photo)

While all other teams have already settled in their respective match venues for their opening ties starting on Friday, October 6, Jammu & Kashmir will only reach Jaipur on Wednesday evening for their game against Team Rajasthan to be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

“We are taking an 11.00am flight from Srinagar to New Delhi on Thursday. From Delhi, we are travelling by bus to Jaipur, which is around a five to six hour drive, so there won’t be time for practice,” said a member of the J&K team.

After refusing to sanction the funds directly to the state’s office-bearers, the Indian cricket board is itself making all the arrangements for the J&K team, including the flight tickets and hotel accommodations.

Asked about the reason for the delay, the team member informed that a plea had been filed by a local cricket club in the Jammu High Court seeking appointment of an administrator to oversee the affairs of the association, but the decision has been delayed.

Though the players were directly informed about their selection into the team, the team had not been officially announced till Wednesday.