ICC chairman Jay Shah met members of the victorious Jammu & Kashmir team following their historic triumph in the Ranji Trophy, where they defeated eight-time champions Karnataka at the Hubli Cricket Ground on February 28 to clinch their maiden title.
After the victory, the players expressed a desire to meet Shah and acknowledge the role his leadership played in strengthening cricket in the region during his tenure as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The ICC chairman fulfilled their wish and interacted with the players, sharing words of encouragement as they celebrated their landmark achievement. “The historic triumph of Jammu & Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy will remain a proud milestone for cricket in the region,” the BCCI wrote on social media while sharing photographs from the meeting.
“After their memorable victory, the players expressed a heartfelt desire to meet ICC Chair @JayShah and share this special moment with him, acknowledging the role his leadership played in strengthening cricket in Jammu & Kashmir during his tenure as BCCI Secretary,” the board added.
The BCCI also congratulated the entire Jammu & Kashmir squad and the cricket fraternity for scripting what it described as a remarkable chapter in Indian domestic cricket, while thanking Shah for taking the time to meet the team.
“We sincerely thank Mr Shah for taking the time to meet the team and for sharing his words of encouragement with the players as they celebrate this historic achievement. Congratulations to the entire J&K team and the cricket fraternity for scripting a remarkable chapter in Indian domestic cricket.”
In their maiden appearance in a Ranji final in 67 years, Jammu & Kashmir scripted history by clinching the title on the basis of a massive first-innings lead. After posting a formidable 584 in their first innings, Jammu & Kashmir bowled Karnataka out for 293 to secure a decisive 291-run advantage.
The team further asserted their dominance by declaring their second innings at 342/4, powered by a marathon unbeaten 160 from opener Qamran Iqbal and an unbroken century stand with Sahil Lotra. The match eventually ended in a draw, with the title awarded to J&K on the basis of their first-innings lead.