Cricket wins over all in Poonch, Rajouri
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, June 26
When it comes to games, cricket attracts all. The game, which has tremendous fan following across the globe, has driven the people of all ages here crazy about it.

Once pushed to homes due to more than two decades of militancy in the state, older and younger generation, with the situation racing back to normal, are going crazy about the game and are coming out to watch cricket tournaments being organised across these twin border districts. Such is the craze of the game in these twin border districts that people in thousands come out of their homes to watch the game.

“Cricket is more of a religion for us. Leave international events of the game, we cannot help stop going to stadiums here to witness the local teams slug it out in the middle,” says Suhail Dar, a resident and batsman who made it to the nationals of cricket event while in school.

“For years together, we remained confined to our homes due to militancy, but things have changed for better now. We are not only playing in the local tournaments, but also our boys are making it to the national events. It’s not only the youngsters who have gone crazy for the game, but also the older people, too, are finding it a refreshing sport.

“For years, our children wouldn’t go to stadium to play the game even as they have great liking for the sport. But, thanks to the almighty God that with the return of normalcy in the state, our boys are returning to stadium for playing the sport. We, too, feel happy that the game is attracting one and all,” says Shoket Mir, a resident of Poonch and fan of the game.

Ajaz Ahmed Dar, member of the Sports Authority of Rajouri, which recently organised a cricket tournament wherein more than 20 teams from across the state participated, said, “In the final match played between the teams from Jammu and Srinagar, crowd which comprised children, youth and elder people, numbered more than 5,000. In the neighbouring district of Poonch, huge crowds were witnessed in all matches”. During the past few months, two major cricket tournaments were organised in the districts.