Services banned from Ranji Trophy for skipping match in J&K

Srinagar/New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Services were on Tuesday
banned from this year's Ranji Trophy cricket season for
skipping a match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar citing
security reasons, a decision which came soon after the state
body's angry outburst against the last-minute pullout.
Services forfeited the Plate Division match at the
Sher-E-Kashmir stadium, hosting a Ranji game after a gap of
five years, leaving the J&K Cricket Association chief Farooq
Abdullah livid.
Abdullah threatened to take up the matter with the Prime
Minister and the Home Minister, saying Services had negated
the government of India's positive assessment of the state's
security situation.
Aware of the sensitivity of the matter, the BCCI promptly
disqualified Services from this year's Ranji Trophy and said
further action would be decided at its next working committee
meeting.
"The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) cricket team
was scheduled to play a Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and
Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at Srinagar from November 3
to November 6 2009.
"However, the SSCB forfeited the match, having expressed
its inability to send its cricket team to Srinagar. The SSCB
has therefore been disqualified from participating in the
2009-10 edition of the Ranji Trophy, in accordance with the
rules of the BCCI pertaining to Domestic Tournaments," BCCI
secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement. (MORE) PTI