Irfan Pathan, other cricketers asked to leave Kashmir amid security concerns

Indian pacer Irfan Pathan and over 100 other cricketers, including support staff of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team, have been asked to leave the Valley at the earliest following government’s security advisory. According to a report published in The New Indian Express, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has asked Pathan, who is associated with the team as a player and mentor, coach Milap Mewada and trainer Sudarshan VP to leave the state.

“Yes, the JKCA has advised Pathan and other support staff to leave J&K. They will fly out of the Valley on Sunday. Selectors, who are not from the region, have also been asked to leave for their respective places,” JKCA chief executive officer (CEO) Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari was quoted as saying by the English daily.

Both, my mind & heart are still back in Kashmir with Indian army & Indian Kashmiri brothers and sisters... #Kashmir #KashmirUnderThreat

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 4, 2019

Bukhari said that they have already sent over 100 players from Jammu, who were camping at Sher-i-Kashmir stadium, back and cricketing activities have also been postponed in the wake of uncertainty following the massive troops buildup.

"We’ve already sent 101-102 Jammu players, who were camping at Sher-i-Kashmir stadium, back. The situation is tense and even we are not sure what’s going to happen, so we postponed cricketing activities and decided to wait for the right time to restart it," Bukhari added.

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Amid the intelligence inputs of terrorist attack threats in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities on Friday issued an advisory asking tourists and Amarnath Yatris to "immediately" curtail their stay in the Valley and return "as soon as possible".

The government's advisory has come hours after the Indian Army revealed that they have “confirmed intelligence inputs” that terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra. Addressing a joint presser with CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army said that they have recovered a landmine and a sniper rifle with Pakistan ordnance factory markings from the route of the pilgrimage.

The revelation comes in the backdrop of massive troops build-up in Kashmir. After rushing 10,000 troops of paramilitary forces to Kashmir last, the central on Thursday moved over 280 companies of security forces, which makes more 28,000 troops, to the Valley. It has also pressed the Indian Air Force aircraft including the C-17 heavy lift plane into service.