SRINAGAR: Jasia Akhtar of Jammu and Kashmir will be a part of the first mini women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. The Women’s T20 challenge will take place at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur from May 6 to May 11.
Jasia, who hails from Braripora village of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, currently represents Punjab women’s cricket team. Jasia revealed that she received a call from the BCCI on April 24 and that she has been told to join the team on May 2. Jasia will represent Trailblazers, led by Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana, in the first women’s IPL.
Jasia’s father, Gul Mohammed Wani, a farmer by profession earns only a handful of money to support his seven-member family. She developed passion for cricket from her childhood days. “I was crazy for this sport since my childhood.
Jasia will be the first women cricketer from the Kashmir to be selected for IPL. For two years 2011 and 2012, Jasia played state level cricket for J&K.
Lack of opportunities, and financial crunch forced her to leave Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and in year 2013 the female cricketer moved to Punjab for play for their team. “In Kashmir, there are not many opportunities cricketers, especially for girls. Besides, we lack sports infrastructure in the sports, so I left Kashmir to make my dreams come true,” said Jasia as quoted by a local daily .
Recalling of how she got an offer to play for Punjab team, Jasia said, “I was playing inter-university games. The team from Punjab was also participating in the tournament. Seeing my performance, Punjab coach was so impressed that he offered me to play for Punjab.”
In 2016 Jasia joined National Senior Women Camp and after that, she also played India Red in 2018. “I experienced many things outside. I saw people spending handsome money on the sport. Soon I got lucky as I got scholarship to pursue my passion regarding the game,” Jasia added. (Inputs Kashmir Monitor)
