Non-professional cricket and loss of lives

In yet another instance, one more young talent has died while playing cricket in the Valley, which indicates how the youngsters are playing with their lives instead of taking proper care during the cricket match in the playfields. The latest example is Firdous Ahmad, a 23-year-old cricketer from Syedpora Narbal, who died after he was hit by a cricket ball in his chest during the cricket match in Budgam. It is not for the first time that any cricketer has lost his life while playing cricket, but such events have also taken place in the past as well. It has been observed that most of the players while playing the hardball cricket don’t take proper care and hardly bother to wear helmets, chest guards and other mandatory items, which hints towards the non-professional cricket being played in the Valley. Not only in the friendly matches, but the youngsters could be seen without proper accessories during the tournaments as well. It is the high time to wake up from the deep slumber and hold the organizers responsible for allowing the non-professional cricket in the playfields as such a measure would help in reducing the untoward incidents and also prevent the precious lives of the young talent in Kashmir. The concerned sports authorities should also create awareness among the youngsters and also rope in the prominent faces of Jammu and Kashmir to sensitize the young lot about the need and necessity of wearing all the mandatory accessories so that such events are put to an immediate end.