Machine-made Cricketers of Kashmir

Srinagar, May 11: The air smells faintly of leather and damp turf as the whirring of a bowling machine echoes off concrete walls. It’s 8:30 p.m. in Lawaypora, Srinagar, and while most streets are winding down, inside a modest indoor facility, a group of teenagers take turns at the crease, facing balls that zip in at precise angles. Watching them closely is Haris Manzoor, 28, who quietly notes footwork, form, and focus.

“This is what I wanted,” he says, folding his arms with a mix of pride and purpose. “A space where kids could stay busy with something better.”

A Dream Born Out of Absence

Lawaypora and the surrounding areas — Shaletang, Narbal, Magam — are rich with talent but poor in infrastructure. Growing up here, Haris knew too well how idle time could pull youth into unproductive or harmful habits. “Children would often end up smoking or wandering,” he says. “There was no ground, no coach, no direction.”

So, in 2024, he rented a covered space, invested in a state-of-the-art bowling machine — the kind used by BCCI — and started New Era Training, an indoor cricket academy tailored to the realities of Kashmir’s uncertain weather and growing aspirations.

A New Rhythm for Old Routines

What began with a few local boys has now grown into a rhythm. Students, office-goers, and even shopkeepers walk in daily — some to train seriously, others to de-stress. “A guy from the corporate sector once told me, ‘This is better than the gym. ‘It sharpens reflexes, not just muscles,’” Haris says with a smile.

Among the regulars is Mushtaq Ahmad, a local cricketer who travels daily from the nearby locality to train. “There are few such academies in Kashmir, but none in my neighbourhood,” he says, catching his breath between sessions. “I often come here for practice on the machine. I practise on different pace variations to improve my game. To improve my cricket, I train here at least one hour daily.”

Inside the academy, there are two batting tracks and another under construction for bowlers. The turf is designed to withstand rain and snow, making year-round practice possible — a rare luxury in Kashmir.

Not Just a Facility — A Philosophy

Inside the facility are two batting tracks and one under construction for bowlers. The space is completely covered, which means weather — rain or snow — no longer interrupts training. During the harshest days of winter, the academy remained fully functional.

The machines used here — supplied by the Leverage brand — offer variations in swing, spin, and pace, using leather balls to simulate real-match scenarios. “A bowler can’t bowl two identical balls — but a machine can,” Haris says. “It helps batsmen perfect shots, understand swing, and adapt quickly.”

A qualified coach is also on site, ensuring players don’t just rely on machines but learn technique and discipline from human guidance too.

Seeds of a Movement

The spirit behind New Era Training is collaborative, not competitive. Haris has already helped others from Bandipora and Magam set up similar cricket centres. “I don’t want to be the only one doing this,” he says. “If others can start too, more youth will benefit. Especially the educated but unemployed ones — many of whom know cricket deeply.”

With relatively low investment, he believes others can follow suit. “There’s real potential here. Once you get started, you begin to see what more can be done.”

Haris now plans to introduce a turf-based academy modelled after Cricket Box — a concept that’s caught on in football arenas like the one in Baghat. “Why not adapt it for cricket?” he says. “Especially for those who can’t play during the day.”

The Final Over

In a region where weather often dictates when and where sport can happen, Haris Manzoor has introduced a rare kind of consistency — one that is shielded, sustained, and self-driven.

“There’s nothing better than practice,” he says. “Talent helps, but effort — repeated effort — makes a cricketer.”

As another ball fires from the machine and thuds into the back net, it leaves behind more than just an echo. It’s the sound of hope, precision, and perhaps, a new cricketing culture in Kashmir.