Weekend rains wash out outdoor sports in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jun 1: Intermittent but heavy rainfall spells washed out nearly all outdoor sporting activities across Kashmir last weekend, bringing a complete halt to the region’s cricketing and other sporting calendar.

Across the length and breadth of Kashmir, dozens of local tournaments friendly matches, and fixtures of cricket, football and other sports were either cancelled or postponed due to waterlogged grounds and unplayable conditions.

“This weekend was crucial for us. Our team had fixtures scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, but the wet outfield and steady downpour ruined everything,” said Touseef Ahmad, a cricketer from Srinagar. While local cricket tournaments operate throughout the week, Sunday remains the linchpin of Kashmir’s recreational cricket. With most people off work, public grounds come alive with the thud of bat on ball and cheers from the sidelines. However, this Sunday, silence prevailed across parks and playgrounds as tarpaulin sheets covered pitches and players remained home.

Haris, a shopkeeper from Srinagar who plays cricket every Sunday to stay mentally and physically fit, expressed disappointment. “I work six days a week and only get Sunday to unwind with cricket. It’s more than a game, it’s therapy. But when it rains like this, there’s nothing you can do.”

Tournament organisers, too, faced a nightmare. Nadeem Ahmad, who coordinates a local tournament in Srinagar outskirts, said the washout threw their plans into disarray. “We had scheduled fixtures this weekend. Now everything has to be reshuffled. It's not just the matches, it’s the whole timetable, including umpire availability and player commitments.”

The repeated interruptions have raised concerns among players and organisers about the need for better infrastructure.

“We love the game, rain or shine,” said Touseef, “but if this keeps happening, we’ll have to rethink how and where we play.”

With the weather forecast predicting clearer skies in the days ahead, cricket lovers say that they were eager to return to the crease. “We are just waiting for the sun,” said Touseef. “This weekend was a loss, but next Sunday, we are ready.”