In the first-round match of the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, Maharashtra was the guest of Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium today. Shubham Khajuria, the opener, scored a respectable 130* to lead the home team to a final score of 264/5 at the end of the first day.
What was happening on the field gave the local supporters a lot to celebrate. But as far as the amenities for them on the ground were concerned, there was little to be happy about. The audience was made to sit on the cement stairs in an unclean environment, even though the stadium had well-built stands.
Despite proper stands in the stadium, JKCA makes spectators sit on the dust; no water or washroom facility available either at SK Stadium Srinagar for the J&K vs Maharashtra #RanjiTrophy match pic.twitter.com/N8MUvBC6K6
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) October 11, 2024
“Despite the stands’ excellent construction, we are not permitted to sit in them. This is where the ground’s security personnel dry their clothes, and we’ve been told to sit here while they’ve been locked up,” a bystander expressed his displeasure.
“They told me to move to the backside if I wanted to watch the game, and that’s how I’m sitting right now.” Lack of water or restroom facilities—this is a basic human convenience—is unacceptable. These facilities ought to be available. Another attendee at the event said, “It is a disappointing fact that the stands are fully suitable for us to sit in, but we have been directed to sit here for reasons that are unknown to everyone.”
There will be one more game this season at Srinagar.
Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar is set to hold another game in addition to the one that is now in progress. Services will take on J&K, and the match is slated to start on October 26, 2024.
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With Shivansh Sharma, the wicketkeeper-battler, at the other end in the present match, Khajuria is undefeated at 18 off 68 balls. Hitesh Walunj, who bowled the most overs and struck the most times for Maharashtra, took the wickets of Abdul Samad and captain Paras Dogra.