Cricketer from Shopian makes the cut for women’s IPL edition

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 26

Jasia Akhtar has become the first woman cricketer from the Valley to get selected for the ‘Women’s T20 Challenge’ of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Akhtar, who hails from Shopian in south Kashmir, will play for the Trailblazers team even as the tournament will be played between May 6 and 11 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Three teams — Supernovas, Trailblazers and Velocity — will play the tournament as a part of the Board of Control for Cricket’s (BCCI) efforts to boost women’s cricket. Besides hosts, international players from England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be seen in action in the four-match series.

Akhtar said it was a dream come true for her and that she ultimately aspired to play for Team India. “I was overjoyed after I got a call from the BCCI asking me to report to Jaipur on May 2. It will be an honour to share the bench with top cricketers of the country. I have always cherished the dream of playing for the national side,” she said.

Her selection was welcomed by all in the Valley. “Congratulations to Jasia Akhtar from Shopian on being selected for the Women’s Indian Premier League that starts on May 6 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Well done!” tweeted Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah also welcomed her selection. “Congratulations to Jasia. I hope she has a very successful debut season playing the Women’s IPL cricket tournament,” he tweeted.