Srinagar: Top-level domestic cricket is set to return to the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar after nearly four decades, with the venue selected to host an Irani Cup fixture. The match marks a high-profile red-ball engagement for the city’s principal cricket ground and follows Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy title last season.
Preparations under way at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium
The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) is conducting upgrades across the venue to meet requirements set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to Majid Dar, head of cricket operations, a BCCI team carried out a recce about one-and-a-half months ago and provided a checklist of necessary facilities.
"Basically, this ground was not meant for live matches, but the BCCI had already sent a team for a recce in advance, one-and-a-half months back. They gave us a checklist of certain requirements like broadcasting rooms, camera towers, and a few other things. We were able to fulfill those requirements on time, and we are ready to host the match."
Dar described the occasion as a historic moment for cricket in the Valley and said organisers are working "round the clock" to ensure the stadium fulfils the technical and logistical needs of a multi-day domestic fixture.
- Broadcasting and media: New broadcasting rooms and camera towers have been installed to meet BCCI standards.
- Seating: Seating capacity around the perimeter has been increased from an earlier 2,000–2,500 to accommodate a larger crowd.
- Operations: Ground management is attending to match-day requirements to host a five-day red-ball contest.
Local context and significance
The fixture is the most significant high-profile cricket event Srinagar has hosted in generations. The stadium’s international history is limited but notable: it staged One Day Internationals in the 1980s, including India vs West Indies on 13 October 1983 and India vs Australia on 9 September 1986. Those matches are remembered locally for dramatic incidents on the field and in the weather.
The Irani Cup coming to Srinagar also follows Jammu and Kashmir’s unprecedented success in domestic cricket. Last season, Jammu and Kashmir won their maiden Ranji Trophy title, defeating Karnataka in the final — an achievement that has elevated interest in the game across the Union Territory.
| Date | Fixture / Notable detail |
|---|---|
| 13 October 1983 | India vs West Indies; Desmond Haynes unbeaten 55; match affected by lunch-interval pitch disruption and adverse weather |
| 9 September 1986 | India vs Australia; Allan Border 90*; Australia won by three wickets |
Officials and cricket administrators in Srinagar say hosting the Irani Cup will be a boost for local players and supporters, giving Valley cricketers exposure to higher standards of domestic competition and providing spectators with access to marquee red-ball cricket without travelling out of the region.
Organisers emphasised that meeting BCCI logistical, broadcast and security requirements was central to securing the fixture. The JKCA’s efforts to upgrade the ground reflect coordination with governing bodies and a push to put Srinagar back onto the national domestic cricket map.
While the Irani Cup fixture does not carry the international status of the 1980s ODIs, administrators said its staging represents the most prominent cricketing event the state has seen in generations and a sign of growing infrastructure and sporting confidence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Match dates, participating teams and ticketing arrangements are expected to be announced by the JKCA and BCCI ahead of the scheduled fixture.
