J038;K: Cricket146;s back after years, gone for a day

The second round of Ranji Trophy matches ended across the country on Friday. Well, almost: the match in Srinagar, the first there in several...

The second round of Ranji Trophy matches ended across the country on Friday. Well, almost: the match in Srinagar, the first there in several years, finishes tomorrow. And it8217;s the usual suspect that8217;s guilty: Tight security for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh8217;s visit midweek.

His speech at the Sher-E-Kashmir Stadium on Wednesday fell on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Division tie between Jammu and Kashmir and Orissa. The rally was staged on not at the main stadium but on part of the adjoining B ground, yet security around the area warranted the day8217;s play to be called off.

ML Nehru, general secretary of the J038;K Kashmir Cricket Association, told The Indian Express that an agreement was 8216;8216;reached early on8217;8217; on the first day of the play itself so there was no hassle. 8216;8216;The Board was also very considerate and acceded to our request. The play continued from the third day November 18 and will now finish tomorrow,8217;8217; he said.

There was no other way, he said, as traffic along the Tourist Centre and the Residency Area was affected.

8216;8216;It was all official8217;8217;, BCCI secretary SK Nair said. 8216;8216;That happened because of security. We permitted it because it was a result of extraneous circumstances and it has happened before too.8217;8217;

BREAKING NEWS

	nbsp;	8226; 1979-80, Jubilee Test India vs England, Mumbai: Second day8217;s play called off because of eclipse, rest day used for play 8226; 1994-95: West Indies XI vs Bombay, Calicut: Three-day bandh called by Leftists. First day8217;s play went off OK, no play on the second day and Windies called off play on the third 8226; 1997-98: India A vs Karachi XI, Karachi: Last day of 3-day match was 8216;Kashmir Day8217;, Pakistani officials abruptly called off play. Plan to continue match on fourth day was rejected by the BCCI	nbsp;