Snow Cricket: Gurez's winter sport shines on frozen pitches

Bandipora, Jan 9: In the remote Tulail Valley of Gurez, a unique winter sport tradition— snow cricket kickstarted on Thursday, capturing the hearts of locals and cricket enthusiasts alike.

Amidst the towering snow-capped peaks and knee-deep snow, players take to frozen pitches to compete in thrilling matches. This decades-old practice, revived in recent years, has garnered attention far beyond Gurez.

As the season's first tournament kicked off in Zadgai village, the game continues to serve as both a cultural symbol and a health activity for the locals, who are often confined to their homes due to heavy snowfall.

Despite the challenges of harsh winter conditions and limited infrastructure, the sport remains a cherished part of Gurez's winter life.

"On Thursday, the season's first tournament kick-started in the remote Tulail Valley’s Zadgai village," Bashir Ahmad Teero, a local, said.

The small scale tournaments first matches were played amid bright sunshine as Bandipora, like other places, witnessed comparatively warm days since Tuesday.

Notably, the practice has been decades old, with icy surfaces serving as pitches made by stomping snow with rollers or feet, while the game follows the normal rules.

The pitches, exposed to the cold, then freeze, hardening them for bowling. In some instances, jute mats are laid to give the pitch a proper bounce.

To name a few, cricket tournaments are held in many villages, including Dawar, Markoot, and Tulail.

Besides local matches, residents say almost all the village teams participate in big tournaments, for which organizers will circulate fixtures soon, said Aijaz Ahmad Dar, a local resident.

For 57-year-old Abdul Raheem Lone, the game has been a "favourite" among the youth, and the practice has continued for decades.

Raheem, who was 16 years old when he first participated in tournaments, says, "Both old and young are attracted to the game, as it generates excitement when there is little to do in the warmth of the homes."

Notably, Gurez, located almost 84 kilometers from the main district headquarters in Bandipora, gets cut off for months as road connectivity is severed due to heavy snowfall.

With the valley witnessing heavy snowfall, locals are mostly confined to their homes. However, with the induction of sophisticated machinery, the BRO, which maintains the Bandipora-Gurez road, is making strides to open it as and when possible.

The road, which last closed on January 1, remains shut while snow clearance operations are ongoing.

Snow cricket in Gurez came under the international spotlight when Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne retweeted a photo of the snow cricket in 2020.

"How good is this?" he reposted a picture from another user showing youth engaged in a cricket match on snow, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Raheem said the game should get support from administration in terms of infrastructure and other means so that youth are encouraged.

Despite the excitement the sport generates, Gurez is exclusively promoted as a summer tourist destination. The place, which remained off-limits for tourists and even non-native locals, has in recent years attracted thousands of visitors.

"Gurez is not a place for winter tourism," Subdivisional Magistrate Gurez, Mukhtar Ahmad, shared with Greater Kashmir.

He acknowledged the excitement the game generates but stated that the sport hasn't been promoted on wider platforms by the administration, as "it will create a lot of hurdles if tourists begin to arrive in winter."

He added that with limited facilities, closed roads for months, and extreme weather vagaries, Gurez is "better suited for summer tourism."

However, he said the local organizers had not approached them for help or support in terms of infrastructure.

"In case they need any assistance to play the game in winter to keep fit, they can approach us anytime," he added.