Burhan Lions, Aabid Khan Qalandars and Khalid Aryans. The three local cricket teams of Kashmir, which took part in a competition concluded this Sunday in Tral, show more than just a love for the game of cricket — they all are named after alleged militants.
The tournament, as per one of the organisers , was actually held in the memory of Khalid Muzaffar Wani, brother of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Khalid got killed by the Indian Army last year when he went to meet his brother in the forests of Pulwama, known to be a militant stronghold. The Army had tagged Khalid a wanted militant and said he died in an encounter.
The two-month long tournament — first ever organised in the heart of a restive south Kashmir— witnessed 16 teams participating from the town of Tral and its surrounding areas. While other teams drew inspiration from the IPL and the recently launched Pakistan Super League for names, at least 3 had names inspired by militant commanders.
Burhan, the inspiration behind Burhan Lions, is well known in the area as a cricket-loving boy next door and also the son of a local headmaster who joined the Hizbul Mujahideen back in 2010. He is now the most famous face of militancy in Kashmir region.
Aabid Khan Qalandars is actually named after Hizbul militant commander Aabid Khan, who was killed in 2014 in an encounter which also claimed the life of an Army colonel.
The Khalid Aryans — named after Burhan’s brother — came out as champions on 24th April, defeating the United XI of Tral.
“The tournament was organised by Khalid’s friends in his memory,” said an organiser. “This is the first time we have seen teams named after militant commanders.”
Interestingly “Pro-freedom songs” were played at the opening ceremony of the competition on 22nd February, while during the finals, Khalid and Burhan’s father Muzaffar Ahmad Wani was invited as the chief guest.
“This (naming teams after militants) is the new normal here,” said another organiser. “In Tral, everything has been touched by the events happening around us, and cricket is no exception.”
The tournament was earlier scheduled to finish in the second week of April but was ultimately delayed due to the shutdown in the Valley following the Handwara killings.
“We had 16 teams and 31 matches,” revealed an organiser. “We decided not to hold a match on the day of the shutdown.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army eventually stayed away from Eidgah ground for the last two months in order to allow a “peaceful” tournament. Organisers further said: “Initially, we had apprehensions that the police or the Army might interfere. But good sense prevailed and they stayed away.”