Kashmir team congratulated for entering Ranji quarter finals

Jammu, Jan 3 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir’s Youth Services and Sports Minister Taj Mohiuddin Friday congratulated the state cricket team for reaching quarter finals of Ranji Trophy this year.

In a message to the team and its players, the minister hoped that the coming times would bring more and more success for the team. He hoped that brighter and sharp players would come out of the state who would bring laurels to not only the state but the country as well.

He said legendary cricketer and coach Polly Umrigar is on record having said if India needs pace bowlers, they would come from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir cricket team created history by reaching the Ranji trophy quarterfinals for the first time after their group C encounter against Tripura ended in a draw on Thursday.

Prior to this, the farthest the state team had progressed in the tournament was the pre-quarter-finals against Odisha in 2000-01.

The team will now square off against Punjab at Baroda from Jan 8.

It was a remarkable achievement for the team considering that many formidable sides such as seven-time champions Delhi, two-time winners Rajasthan, last year’s finalists Saurashtra and Gujarat failed to make it to the knockout stage.

The hosts (Tripura) had began the day at a solid 103 for two but were all out for 272 as J&K skipper and ace spinner Parvez Rasool claimed seven wickets at the expense of 87 runs.