Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 30: After nearly eight years, the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) is set to hold elections for its office bearers and Apex Council on January 16, at GGM Science College, Jammu,
Affiliated members, while addressing a news conference here welcomed the move, calling it a long-awaited step toward normalization and the revival of cricket administration in the Union Territory.
“After eight years, JKCA is finally heading towards elections as per the Supreme Court’s directions. We appreciate the personal efforts of BCCI President Mithun Manhas, whose intervention helped pave the way for this democratic process,” members said, adding that prolonged litigation had left the Association in administrative limbo.
Earlier attempts to mediate club disputes through the J&K High Court and later by BCCI-appointed Justice L. Narsimha Reddy, helped verify records and finalize the list of representatives eligible to participate in the polls.
“Petitions filed by some clubs previously suspected by the 2015 working committee in connection with earlier financial irregularities were disposed of by the Supreme Court, which upheld the suspension of their voting rights.”
Another JKCA member said, “For years, cricket in J&K suffered from disputes and mismanagement. The interim administrators dismantled the old structure, but the system introduced under BCCI’s guidance brought professionalism and transparency.”
He added that the selection process for both men and women players has become more merit-based, leading to visible improvements in performance and player development.
Members credited BCCI President Mithun Manhas, a former Delhi captain, for stabilizing JKCA affairs and restoring credibility.
Calling the upcoming polls a “historic and corrective step,” members urged all stakeholders to support the process and focus on improving cricket infrastructure and nurturing local talent in J&K.
“The Supreme Court’s intervention and the upcoming elections will finally end the cycle of litigation that has crippled JKCA for years. It’s time to bring back the glory of cricket in Jammu & Kashmir,” members added.
Notably, the elections, delayed due to internal disputes and prolonged litigation, will be conducted under the supervision of A.K. Jyoti, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, appointed by the Supreme Court to ensure the process adheres strictly to the court-approved JKCA Constitution.
The Apex Court, in the case titled ‘Youth Cricket Club & Others vs JKCA & Others’, directed that the elections be completed within 12 weeks.
