‘Three players from Bangladesh, a few from Afghanistan and Pakistan cricket team using our bats’
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar : A youth from Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district left his job in Delhi to promote cricket bats at international level that are manufactured at his own units.
Firdous Ahmad Khan (28), a resident of Pujteng village on national highway in Anantnag district started to promote his own bats from last many years after he left his job in Delhi.
Firdous said that his family was associated with bat industry since 1990,s and were manufacturing bats that were sold to local players. However, since 2017, he himself took command of his unit namely “Khan International Sports” and started manufacturing whole cricket kit and promoting them at international level.
“After completing my MBA, M.com and Diploma in international business operations, I got a job in multinational company in Delhi,” he told News Agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) in an exclusive chat. “I was not satisfied there as I wanted to do something for my society and I decided to promote cricket bats of my own unit.”
He said that he started developing contacts in Meerut which is known as hub of cricket accessories and started a unit there for manufacturing of all accessories required for cricket. “We are bringing willow clefts from England for manufacturing of bats and other items,” he said.
Later, Firdous started same work at his residence in Pujteng as well and started promoting bats and other accessories at international level. “Most people working here are focusing on quantity not quality, that is why there is was need of manufacturing quality bats and promoting them at international level,” Firdous said. “I have met so many international players and I am in contact with hundreds of players in order to promote our bats and other accessories. Three players from Bangladesh and few players from Afghanistan and Pakistan are using our brand and hopefully it will increase and flourish in coming days.”
He said that international players are in touch with him and they are using his brand. “I am planning to organize a mega sports event in which international players will be invited that will help us to promote Kashmir bat industry besides tourism,”Firdous told KNO. “So far we have got positive response from people but we need government support as well for promotion of bat industry and tourism.”
He said at present around 50 people are working at his two units and hopefully in coming days more people will be involved in it. “My message for the educated unemployed youth is to don’t wait for the jobs but create the jobs as there hundreds of opportunities and sectors are available where we can contribute for the society besides earn good money sewell,” Firdous said.
Firdous said that bat industry in Kashmir is providing jobs to thousands of people needs proper government care so that more and more people can generate their employment. “B besides that it can increase the flow of tourists here and generate revenue for government as well,” he said—(KNO)
