J&K mentor-cum-player and former international cricketer Irfan Pathan on Saturday left J&K team midway after witnessing the violence in Jammu city closely on Friday.
The star player who was in Jammu as part of J&K T20 training camp for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament on Saturday left from Jammu and will be rejoining the team directly in Andhra Pradesh.
Pathan who was staying in Jammu’s KC Hotel on Residency Road witnessed the violence on Friday closely.
He was in his hotel room when the protesters burned down number of vehicles near his hotel, sources said.
“He was scared and remained all day in his hotel room as curfew was imposed in city following the violence. Seeing curfew again imposed in Jammu on Saturday and no hope for training and preparations, he decided leave Jammu city. He will join the team directly in Andra Pradesh now,” said a J&K Cricket Association insider.
“The violence happened close to his hotel and he had witnessed vehicles been burned outside his hotel room. After that he remained confined to his hotel room all the day. Then he decided that it was better to leave the city,” he said.
Due to violence, the JKCA has not announced its team for the tournament yet, and the players who are part of the shortlist coaching camp have been confined to their hotel rooms for last two days.
“The situation is such that we are helpless. The team was about to be announced Friday but that couldn’t happen and now they are planning to announce it today evening. Not only the players, even the selectors have been forced to remain inside their hotel rooms,” he added.
J&K would be playing its first match of Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy tournament on February 21 against Nagaland at Chukkapalli Pitchaiah Cricket Ground, Mulapadu.