Jay Shah meets Jammu & Kashmir Team after Ranji Trophy Victory, Says 'Take Ten-Day Break and Start Again'

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Players from the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy-winning squad met ICC Chairman Jay Shah to express their appreciation for his role in the expansion of cricket in the region.

The J&K team won their maiden Ranji Trophy title recently and then flew to Mumbai for the special event, which was held on Monday (March 2) at the Trident Nariman Point Hotel.

Jammu & Kashmir players meet Jay Shah

The cricketers highlighted their thanks for the robust administrative backing and targeted programs that have enhanced facilities and nurtured pathways for emerging players. This comes on the heels of J&K's standout campaign in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26, where they scripted history by storming into the semifinals, their best showing since the 2018-19 season.

Standout performers like pace bowler Auqib Nabi (leading wicket-taker with 35 scalps) and dynamic batsman Abdul Samad (scoring 450+ runs) drew national attention, signalling cricket's resurgence in a region long challenged by infrastructure hurdles.

Jay Shah, the ICC chairman, commended the squad's grit and achievements, emphasizing how consistent investments in grassroots development- including the renovation of iconic venues like the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar and the Multi-Purpose Stadium in Jammu-have fueled this growth.

Under his leadership, BCCI has allocated over ₹50 crore since 2022 for J&K cricket upgrades, fostering more high-performance centers and talent hunts.

Shah was accompanied with BCCI president Mithun Manhas, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir and has been pivotal in their growth.

A member of the J&K team told MyKhel that the ICC chairman was extremely supportive and congratulated the entire team and staff after their Ranji Trophy heroics. He also encouraged the players to prepare for the upcoming season after a short break.

"Meeting Jay Shah was special. He congratulated each member and staff individually. He was very happy for us and mentioned how grand the win is. But he also said maintaining the same status next season will be tougher. Mr. Shah actually told us to take a ten-day break and then we should start preparing for next season."