Jammu, March 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), an affiliate unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been under the control of a Sub-Committee since June 2021. This committee was tasked with streamlining operations, implementing reforms, and managing cricketing affairs in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Recently, media reports and statements from the JKCA's current dispensation suggested that the Supreme Court of India had upheld the newly drafted JKCA constitution. However, a review of the actual court proceedings reveals that such claims are premature and potentially misleading.

Pertinently the matter related to JKCA was listed in the Supreme Court of India under Civil Appeal No(s). 4235/2014, item no. 22 in Court No. 2, Section III. The Court order dated March 18, 2025, merely scheduled the next hearing for March 25, 2025.

Contrary to the claims made by the current JKCA authorities, the Supreme Court has not yet passed any order endorsing or accepting the constitution drafted by the Sub-Committee and the news items published in some dailies are factually incorrect and misleading.

The Sub-Committee, composed of Mithun Manhas, a former Delhi cricketer who joined JKCA after being sidelined in Delhi, two senior political figures, whose inclusion raises eyebrows, as it stands in direct violation of the Lodha Committee reforms, which explicitly prohibit any political office-bearers or those with political affiliations from holding positions in BCCI-affiliated units and close aide of Manhas, Majid Yaqoob Dar, a former J&K cricketer, controversially appointed to handle cricket affairs in the Kashmir region despite a lack of administrative or technical experience. His recent Level 1 coaching certification also raised concern as it was obtained while in office, allegedly through self-nomination, bypassing several senior and deserving cricketers.

As the four-year tenure of the Sub-Committee is drawing to a close. Local cricketers and former players have begun voicing serious concerns over the erosion of democratic functioning within the JKCA, the lack of grassroots and club-level cricket, once the backbone of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir and stagnation in player development, with activities reduced to annual selection trials.

A senior cricketer, requesting anonymity, said that, "earlier, grounds across Jammu and Kashmir were vibrant with club matches and training camps. Today, cricket has been reduced to formality trials, with little to no opportunity for real talent to emerge and the players doing good at the highest level are mostly tapped during the talent hung programme conducted by JKCA six years ago.

Another major concern that many cricket enthusiasts feel is the extravagant expenditure incurred by the Sub-Committee on five-star hotel stays, travel, and hefty allowances—leaving minimal financial bandwidth for player development, infrastructure, or tournaments.

Multiple young cricketers from the Kashmir division have accused Majid Yaqoob Dar, the nominated in-charge of JKCA Kashmir, of biased and arbitrary conduct. While allegations on one hand include denying of access to budding cricketers to the JKCA stadium, Sonwar on unfounded grounds and on the other hand facilitating unrestricted access for senior officials, in contrast to his treatment of players.

Pertinently Majid Dar also faces legal scrutiny over age-fraud allegations from his playing days. The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir has already filed an FIR, and the case is pending trial. The continuation of his role in such a sensitive administrative capacity amid unresolved allegations has drawn widespread criticism since long.

Many cricket buffs, including former players, coaches, and other cricketing enthusiasts in view of what they call unhealthy developments of cricket, across J&K are demanding the immediate restoration of a democratically elected JKCA body. They argue that the region's cricket cannot progress unless transparent and democratic governance is reinstated besides reviving Club and grassroots-level cricket. They even feel that the funds should be prioritized for infrastructure and player development rather than administrative luxuries.

Moreover, the narrative around the Supreme Court's endorsement of the JKCA constitution has been misleadingly portrayed by the current administration, say agitated cricketers. With the next hearing scheduled for March 25, 2025, all eyes are now on the judiciary for a decision that could potentially reshape the future of cricket governance in Jammu and Kashmir.

Until then, the discontent among the cricketing community continues to grow, with mounting pressure to uphold transparency, democracy, and fairness in the administration of cricket in the region