Over 500 holes were dug up in the stadium
The only international cricket stadium in Jammu and Kashmir has faced a political onslaught during campaigning for the ongoing five-phase elections in the state.
The BJP and the People's Democratic Party or PDP held rallies at the Shere-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar ahead of the phase four polling last week. Now, there are holes everywhere in the stadium that were dug to erect fence posts for election rallies.
While the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association or JKCA has started relaying of pitch and filling holes, the chief curator of the association says the stadium cannot be restored before May next year.
"There are 500-700 holes in the ground. After BJP there was PDP rally and there are thousands of cigarettes littered around. This should never happen. We have B ground here and they could have easily held rallies there," said Ishtiyaq Ahmad, chief curator JKCA.
In the past, political rallies have been held in the stadium - but only in the practice area known as B ground. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his maiden political rally in Kashmir on the main ground. Even the pitch was dug up to erect a fence. It was followed by PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's rally in the stadium. Ironically, the government has allowed these rallies in the stadium without any permission from the JKCA that owns the stadium.
"This is the only facility we had of international standard in Jammu and Kashmir and you see it in such condition. I can only hold my tears," says Mubashir, a cricketer.
Sports commentator and writer Gauhar Geelani says its second time when Shere-Kashmir cricket stadium has been vandalised for politics.
"1983 it was vandalised by separatists who wanted to prove their political point after India- West Indies match in the stadium. Today it has become victim of mainstream politics and elections," he said.
Four months ago, the stadium was ravaged by floods and after months of hard work, the cricket associated had somehow managed to restore the stadium. The challenge before JKCA is that it doesn't have enough money for restoration works. The Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI is not releasing money to JKCA after the 2012 multi-crore cricket scam in the state.
At a time when the Jammu and Kashmir team has put their best performance after defeating Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, back home it is cricket that had to pay a price for politics in the state.