Choosing cricket as career option not easy in Kashmir: Ahmad Banday

Interview• Dec 05, 2017 •

Ahmad Omar Banday has emerged as the shining light to be earmarked as one for the future.

Jammu and Kashmir’s run in Ranji Trophy 2017-18 was trademark J&K. Fractured with off-field controversies, selection dramas, demoralizing defeats, occasional victory and couple of players exhibiting, every now and then, they belonged to the league. Just one victory, one draw and four massive defeats is J&K’s report card for the summer. As has been case in the past, amidst this no show Ahmad Omar Banday has emerged as the shining light to be earmarked as one for the future. With senior batsmen failing to give respectable performances, Banday-22-just in his second season of senior cricket showed guts and skill to emerge as the highest scorer for J&K.
The Srinagar born right-hander notched up 414 punctuated with a hundred and two fifties in six matches with a decent average of 37 to give some comfort to beleaguered fans.

Coming into limelight after a double ton in in Col CK Naydu U-23 tourney on back of serious performances in the age-group cricket, a J&K debut was a mere formality with selectors opting to try him limited overs’ cricket last year. Banday has become a regular feature since then across all the formats and is highly talked about by the coaches.

Kashmir Observer’s Mohsin Kamal caught up with Banday to talk about his success and future endeavours.
KO: Your short cricketing career suggests you have scored consistently at age-group cricket. Did you expect call up to senior team so soon?

Banday: I have been scoring consistently for J&K in various age-group tournaments. I guess I have scored 24 fifties at junior level. Playing for Jammu and Kashmir was always a dream and when I scored a double hundred in U-23 CK Naidu Trophy I was confident that I will get a call up to the senior side. 

I have always set high standards and expectations for myself. I seriously believe that playing junior level cricket before first class cricket boosts your confidence and then it becomes comparatively easy to excel in top level cricket.

When I first played in Vijay Hazare trophy, I was selected after performing at U-19 state level and my first stint went good as I scored fifty on my debut game against Delhi.

KO: It is certainly not easy to be a cricketer in Kashmir. What are the most telling faced by upcoming cricketers in the valley?
Banday: The major issue is the non availability of academies. As we see outside our state, players have a proper infrastructure for practice to hone their skills. In Kashmir we have a lot of talent but that needs proper guidance to excel.
KO: There aren’t many stars in J&K for young cricketers to look upto. It must be difficult to find motivation to be a professional cricketer growing up?
Banday:  Cricket is a sport which is worshipped in our state. No matter what people are doing they are always connected with this game. Almost everybody has played cricket here at some level. Be it local leagues or weekend matches. But when it comes to taking it as a career there aren't much options for a player.

In other states corporate sector comes forward to look after players’ financial needs so that they can concentrate on their game. But as you know we have no such facilities here, it gets difficult for a player to decide what to do.

Though, after Parvez Rasool played for India things have changed and lots of people have started to believe that they can make it big as well. Parents mindset has also changed. They guide their children to take it as a career now.
KO: Emerging as the top run getter for J&K in just your second season must be a great feeling. A lot of hard work would have gone into reaching here?
Banday: It feels good to be the top run getter for my state. But I would like to do better next season, Inshallah. My aim is to be among top run getters in India next season. Yes I worked hard throughout the off season both on my fitness and skills. I usually train at Bangalore in KIOC academy due to lack of proper facilities here.
KO: What are your immediate goals?
Banday: I want to keep working hard and improve every game. As they say process is more important than the result, I am keen to prepare myself to bigger challenges ahead. For a young player who wants to make big, hard work has no substitute and believing in own ability is a cornerstone to the success.