CASHING CRICKET, KILLING TALENT

In recent years, Kashmir has witnessed a remarkable rise in the number of privately organized cricket tournaments.

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From the bustling towns of South Kashmir to the serene villages in Kupwara, these events have become a familiar sight. While they offer entertainment and a much-needed outlet for youth, there is growing concern that the sport is being commercialized at the cost of nurturing genuine talent. The state must now intervene. There is an urgent need to control this booming industry before it converts cricket into a sport for the elite instead of a means for everyone.

Cricket, which was the most affordable game in the Valley, is now getting costlier. In most of these privately administered tournaments, young cricketers have to shell out considerable money to register a team or even to be in line for selection. Entry fees into one tournament alone cost thousands of rupees. Uniforms, gear, travel, and other organizational expenses make it impossible for many youngsters to play, particularly those belonging to poor backgrounds.

More disturbing is the fact that talent and ability are no longer the sole or even pre-eminent factor in selection. Team line-ups are often determined on the basis of who can afford or has sponsorship, pushing aside boys who might be more talented but are unable to compete financially. In an area where opportunities for young people are already limited, making cricket a pay-to-play game is nothing less than a social injustice.

There also comes a culture of "sponsored players" and "celebrity cricketers" recruited from other districts or states. These players are compensated for appearances and dominate games in matches, further excluding local youth. The infusion of veteran players will improve the level of competition, but it becomes an issue when it deprives a platform to the very same players that the tournaments were promoting. Instead of acting as a springboard for fresh talent, these events increasingly resemble exhibitions where visibility and popularity matter more than grassroots development.