Jammu, Mar 06: BJP spokesperson Dr. Abhijeet Jasrotia on Friday said the historic Ranji Trophy triumph of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team reflects how the sport has moved beyond the corruption and mismanagement that once plagued the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, Jasrotia congratulated the J&K cricket team for their victory and said the achievement was not merely a sporting milestone but also a sign of institutional reforms in cricket administration in the Union Territory.
He said that for decades people in Jammu and Kashmir wondered why a region rich in sporting talent had failed to win the Ranji Trophy after Independence.
“The answer lies in the mismanagement and controversies surrounding the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, where merit was ignored and politics dominated sports administration,” he said.
Referring to the JKCA scam, Jasrotia said that although the matter is sub judice and he would not comment on its legal aspects, it is a matter of public record that the association had once reached a “pathetic state”, leaving young cricketers demoralised and opportunities blocked.
He said a turning point came after 2021 when Jay Shah, then secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), visited Jammu and Kashmir and took note of the deteriorating condition of cricket in the region.
“Following his intervention, concrete steps were taken to clean up the system and rebuild cricket in Jammu and Kashmir,” Jasrotia said.
He added that new cricket turfs were developed in both Jammu and Kashmir and a dedicated team was tasked with reviving the functioning of JKCA.
Jasrotia credited Brigadier Anil Gupta, Advocate Sunil Sethi, and former international cricketer and BCCI President Mithun Manhas for restoring transparency, professionalism and merit-based selection in the association.
“Unlike the past when favouritism and nepotism prevailed, the new system ensured equal opportunities for talented players from both Jammu and Kashmir. The result of that honest and transparent approach is visible today in the form of the Ranji Trophy victory,” he said.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for congratulating the team, Jasrotia said that while such gestures are welcome, the leaders of previous political regimes should also explain their role in the controversies that once surrounded the cricket association.
He also expressed concern over the declining performance of Jammu and Kashmir in national sporting events.
According to Jasrotia, the medal tally of the Union Territory in the National Games dropped from 46 medals in the 2024 Goa National Games to 25 medals recently, with the ranking slipping from 19th to 37th.
He further pointed to the recent Winter Games, where Jammu and Kashmir secured only two medals despite having natural conditions favourable for winter sports.
“Artificial snow may create headlines, but it cannot produce champions. What is needed is talent identification, transparent selection, proper infrastructure and serious involvement of sports leadership,” he said.
Jasrotia said the Ranji Trophy victory demonstrates that when corruption and nepotism are removed and merit is prioritised, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir can compete and succeed at the highest level.
He congratulated the J&K cricket team and said their success marks a new chapter of hope and excellence in sports in the Union Territory.
