Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that Kashmir will be beautiful if Kashmiri youth pick up bat instead of gun and pick up ball instead of stones.
Kaif, the former middle order batsman for Indian cricket team who hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, stated this while reacting to a video of elated villagers on the selection of Manzoor Dar into cash-rich Indian Premier league (IPL).
One of the videos reached former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif who was elated to watch the support Dar received.
In a tweet, the 37-year old said, “What a wonderful feeling it must be for Manzoor Dar to watch the celebrations. If instead of a gun, the youth pick up a bat, if instead of stones, the youth pick up a ball, the atmosphere in Kashmir will become beautiful. They need to be encouraged to play a sport and govt should support.”
Dar picked up by IPL’s Kings XI Punjab, belongs to Suganpora Ganastan, a remote village of Kashmir’s Sumbal town.
Since the day Dar got selected by KXIP for Rs 20 lakh, the village has been celebrating the 24-year-old’s success, and videos of the locals dancing on the streets have been going viral. Dar is the second cricketer from Kashmir to be selected for IPL. (Courtesy Greater Kashmir)