Former Indian cricketer, Yusuf Pathan has said that said there is a lot of talent in Jammu and Kashmir and that Army is working hard to encourage youngsters in the region.
“I learnt that from Irfan (Pathan, Yusuf’s brother who was roped in by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association as a player-cum-mentor for the cricket team of the Union Territory). Two to three boys were selected and played in the IPL as well. This is a good sign that there is talent is here. The way the Army has organised the tournament, which has been played by 200 teams, it is worth appreciation and it will encourage the talent,” he said during the final match of the Kashmir Premier League cricket tournament, which was played at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium.
Pathan said the Army is working hard to encourage youngsters and its efforts will bear fruits.
“People here are working to take cricket forward. Everyone wants IPL matches, national and international games to be played here. Obviously, it will happen once the infrastructure is there,” he said.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion the General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps, also known as the Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General D P Pandey, appealed to the youngsters in the valley to focus on sports and hoped that Kashmir will produce an Olympic gold medallist like Neeraj Chopra in the future.
“Today, National Sports Day is being celebrated and there could not have been a great day for this final than today. I take this opportunity to appeal to the youth to focus on every sport and not cricket so that god willing, a Neeraj Chopra comes to the fore from here,” he said.
The Army officer said sports teaches discipline and the youngsters of Jammu and Kashmir, who have a lot of talent, should use it to earn a name for themselves.
He asked them to learn from the success story of former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan, who was also present on the occasion.
