Cricket in Kashmir

Times of India's Kim Arora reports on the progress of cricket in Kashmir. In August 2011, the Kashmir Premier League, a Twenty20 tournament, was a success and three players who featured in it were subsequently selected to be coached at academies in Chennai and Pune.

The success of the tournament, organised for around Rs 2 crore, has since spurred dozens of younger kids to pursue the game more actively. Now the state's under-14 cricketers have a mini-KPL of their own. Named Sheher-e-Khas, the first edition of the fortnight-long tournament concluded recently. The sight of aspiring cricketers - all with hope in their hearts and a bat or ball in hand - romping about in their blue "India" jerseys is a heartening sight