Ex-Ranji player from J

Srinagar, Oct 9 (UNI) A senior cricket coach of Jammu and Kashmir and former Ranji player has refused to assist a colleague in the nets for selection of the state team for C K Naidu under-22 tournament to be played in Patiala from October 13.

Abdul Qayoom Khan, according to a notice issued by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket association (JKCA) honorary secretary general Salim Ahmed Khan, was to assist Idrees, a BCCI-trained coach, in the nets for selection of the state under-22 team.

The trials for selection of the cricket team are already on.

In the notice, the honorary general secretary said cricketers should immediately report for nets everyday at 1400 hrs at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here.

Idrees, in charge of nets, would assisted by Qayoom Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, he added.

Talking to UNI, Qayoom Khan said he had declined the offer as Idrees had been his student and a player when he was the coach of the state team. ''I had taught him (Idrees) the art of bowling. How can I accept this decision? I cannot work under him,'' he added.

Khan, who is also a pitch curator, said he started his cricketing career in 1968 when he played his first class match against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.

''Incidentally, my last first class match was also against Delhi in 1986 Ranji trophy. Then I took retirement,'' he added.

Khan said he had undergone a one-year training in coaching from the acclaimed National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala in 1972.

He claimed to have coached and trained several young cricketers of the state. Of them, three -- Abdul Qayoom Bagow, Samiullah and Sameer Ali -- were later picked up by the Chennai-based MRF Pace Foundation for training.

''I have been the coach of the Jammu and Kashmir team for the Ranji trophy and other national tournaments in 1982 when Idrees was a player,'' he added.

Khan also claimed to have assisted five national coaches -- Col Hemu Adhikari, Poly Umrigar, Chandu Borde, D P Azad and Gurcharan Singh -- in camps in the state.

Khan said he had also coached the Kashmir University team from 1976 to 2004. ''With such a profile, how can I think of assistaing Idrees,'' he added.

Khan blamed the honorary general secretary for this ''mess up''.

''Cricket can never develop in Jammu and Kashmir till people like Salim Ahmed Khan are at the helm of affairs of the JKCA

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