SRINAGAR: The Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir (CBMAK) has swung into legal action against Sony Pictures Networks, the makers of the popular reality show "Shark Tank India" and Tramboo Sports Pvt. Ltd. The dispute stems from claims made on the show during an episode that aired on January 30th, 2024.

A delegation of CBMAK, the recognized amalgam body of all cricket bat manufacturers in the Kashmir Valley while talking to Kashmir based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com strongly refuted the portrayal of Tramboo Sports as the sole manufacturer of Kashmir willow cricket bats. 

They expressed deep concern about the claims made by Tramboo Sports on "Shark Tank India," alleging they have misled the public and caused significant harm to its members' businesses.

They claim these misrepresentations have resulted in a "severe jolt" to the sales of their members' bats and tarnished the image of the entire indigenous Kashmiri bat-making industry.

“The bats manufactured by CBMAK members are highlighted for their superior quality, with various star cricketers endorsing and utilizing them. This sets the stage for the association's claims against Tramboo Sports,” the delegation said.

“We express astonishment at the claims made by Tramboo Sports on the 'Shark Tank India' Season 3 episode dated 30th January 2024,” they said.

They alleged that Tramboo Sports falsely presented themselves as the sole manufacturers of Kashmir willow bats, causing harm to CBMAK members.

“We contend that Tramboo Sports' false assertions have led to a severe jolt in the sales and supply of CBMAK members' bats. The claims have also misled the public and purchasers, tarnishing the image of the indigenous industry,” they said.

“CBMAK emphasizes its role as the true and only representative of Kashmir's cricket bat manufacturers,” the association said while claiming unequivocal support from its members, portraying itself as the guardian of the prosperity and welfare of the local bat manufacturing industry.

The Association through its counsel has also sent a detailed legal notice demanding an on-air apology within 15 days from both Sony Pictures Networks and Tramboo Sports. Additionally, the association through legal notice have sought compensation of Rs. 100,00,00,000 (One Hundred Crores) for damages, loss, and mental agony suffered by CBMAK. (KDC)

SRINAGAR: : The Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha hosted a ‘High Tea’ for the renowned International players participating in Legends League Cricket matches, at the Raj Bhawan.

While interacting with the Cricketers, the Lt Governor said the entire Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir is proud and excited about the matches being held at MA Stadium. He said: “This is the first major international Cricket event for the UT after several decades and a beginning of new sporting era for Jammu Kashmir.

These matches featuring International Cricket stars will not only help us to achieve excellence in organising international sporting events but also popularize a robust sports culture in the masses, especially among the youth”.

The Lt Governor said over the next three days, Jammu Kashmir will celebrate and honour sporting excellence, dedication and commitment of the cricketers in the playing field and players will get an opportunity to enjoy UT's hospitality, and incredible culture of J&K during their stay.

The Lt Governor said: “This tournament is also an occasion to uphold the values of Cricket game, which seeks to promote peace, excellence, respect, friendship and unity. In every respect, Jammu Kashmir echoes and reinforces these ideals and developing a thriving sporting culture.

The power of sports to bring peace and unity is extraordinary and I am sure your presence will influence and inspire the young generation to discover their true calling to shape a new future”.

The Lt Governor congratulated the players including Chris Gayle, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar, Thisara Perera, Stuart Binny and extended his best wishes to the teams for the remaining matches.

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday said that the seven University students held in Ganderbal district after the Cricket World Cup final have not been arrested “merely for raising pro-Pakistan slogans but in full context in which the sloganeering took place.”

The Police also defended booking the seven students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) saying section 13 of Act is about inciting, advocating and encouraging separatist ideology and not about terrorism.
In a detailed statement, Police said a number of opinions and comments have been made on the legal cognisance taken of the happenings surrounding anti India sloganeering and intimidation of others who did not agree with them in a university after the conclusion of World Cup final.

“Two relevant aspects are brought to public knowledge. First it is not merely about raising pro Pakistan slogans. It is about the full context in which the sloganeering took place. These slogans, as has usually been the case with select few bullies, were aired to intimidate those who disagreed and also to identify and vilify those who choose to keep a distance. It is also about normalising an abnormal : that everyone hates India (as different from the government of the day and party in power) ‘openly’. This abnormal and false thing is practiced mostly on the back of separatist and terrorist networks,” the statement by Ganderbal police said.

“In other words, the aim is not airing personal preference of a particular sporting team. It is not about dissent or freedom of expression. It is about terrorising others who may be nourishing pro-India feelings or anti-Pakistan feelings or disagreeing. There were written complaints to evidence this,” it added.

The police said the second aspect is application of the right law.

“Section 13 of UAPA is about inciting, advocating and encouraging separatist ideology. It is not about planning, aiding and executing actual terror acts. It classifies such actions as unlawful. In contrast to other provisions of act it is a softer provision of act,” the police said.

Hence as per the content of the complaints, FIR No. 317/2023 stands registered and section 13 UAPA invoked for inciting and abetting the unlawful activities. Section 505 and 506 IPC too has been invoked for ‘public mischief’ and ‘criminal intimidation’ respectively, police said.

Police said the FIR is lodged on the basis of written complaint received and relevant sections are invoked as per the contents of the complaint.

Seven Kashmiri students were arrested and booked under the UAPA on November 20 after another non local student complained that he was allegedly threatened and pro-Pakistan slogans were raised following Australia’s victory against India in the World Cup final on November 19. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Seven Kashmiri students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology have been arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) over an alleged altercation with non-local students after India lost the Cricket World Cup final against Australia on November 19.

The seven students of SKUAST’s veterinary sciences and animal husbandry department were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district after a formal complaint was lodged by a non-local student.

The complainant, also a student of the SKUAST, said he was supporting the country during the final of the Cricket World Cup and after the match finished the seven students “abused” and “threatened” him for supporting India.

“They also threatened me to shut up, otherwise I would be shooted,” the complaint read.

He alleged the Kashmir students also shouted pro-Pakistan slogans after the match “which created fear amongst the students from outside Union territory of J&K."

Soon after the complaint, a case was registered in Ganderbal police station under sections 13 of UAPA and Sections 505 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code related to public mischief and criminal intimidation.

Police said the seven accused have been arrested in the case and further investigation is underway.

A SKUAST official also confirmed the arrests. He said the incident was reported from an undergraduate hostel on the campus on November 19 and the students were arrested a day later.

"There was no clash between the students,” he said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The much-awaited Asia Cup faceoff between India and Pakistan Asia Cup was called off due to intermittent rains at Pallekele Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

Both teams shared a point each, but Pakistan stormed into the Super-Four Stage of the tournament without sweating too much with the bat, and their pacers had a good outing against top Indian batsmen.

Pakistan are topping Group A with 3 points, and India are standing second with a point. Nepal is yet to open an account.

Fans were disappointed with such a finish, but were happy to go back home with the memories of Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan's classic fifties, and the fiery bowling of Pakistani pacers. Leading the pack were Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who together bagged all 10 wickets.

With overcast conditions hovering over the stadium, both captains were keen on batting first, but Rohit Sharma called the toss right and opted to bat.

India were on the backfoot immediately, tottering at 66/4 but India fought back with a fantastic 138-run partnership between Kishan and Hardik. Kishan slammed 82 off 81 balls and Hardik cracked 87 off 90 balls with 7 boundaries and a six. In this period, Pakistan allowed India to recover with their spinners looking flat and the fielding sloppy.

The wicket-keeper batsman paced his innings nicely by mixing aggression and caution, while Hardik was on a roll with his flat-batted hits square of the wicket.

Kishan got to his fifty in 54 balls after ambling across for a single off Shadab Khan in the 29th over, collecting 6 boundaries and a six along the way.

This was an excellent reply by him when Pakistani pacers had dismissed top four Indian batsmen including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in 15 overs. This was also Kishan's fourth ODI fifty on the trot and his seventh overall in the format.

Hardik completed his fifty in 62 balls with three boundaries as his partnership with Kishan crossed the century mark, taking India to 187/4 in 36 overs. This was his 11th ODI fifty.

Haris Rauf eventually broke the century stand by sending back Kishan who cracked 9 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Hardik, however, did not stop and stepped up gas after Kishan's dismissal. Just when the Gujarat lad looked to build yet another partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, Shaheen Afridi removed them in the same over.

India were reduced to 266 all out from 239/5.

Shaheen scalped 4 wickets, while Rauf and Naseem Shah picked 3 wickets each to curb India getting to 300 runs mark as it looked possible when Hardik and Kishan were going great guns.

After winning the toss, India were soon in a spot of bother as they lost four wickets in the span two rain breaks in the first innings.

India lost Shubman Gill for 10 off 32 balls, cleaned up by Rauf who had an impressive-looking Shreyas Iyer, who was making a comeback into the playing XI after an injury.

After the first rain break, Shaheen sent back Rohit and Virat Kohli in consecutive overs. And Haris Rauf had an impressive-looking Shreyas Iyer, who was making a comeback into the playing XI after an injury.

Shreyas was out caught by Fakhar Zaman who had dropped Rohit in the very first over of the match for 14 off 9 balls, leaving India in a deep hole at 48/3 in 9.5 overs.

Rohit lost his wicket after he was cleaned up by Shaheen for 11, and Kohli fell to the same bowler, chopping on to his stumps for 4.

Pakistan are coming into the match after beating minnows Nepal comprehensively in the tournament opener, and for India this is the opener. If Pakistan wins today's match, they will qualify for the round-robin contest.

Pakistan fielded an unchanged team, while India drafted in Shardul Thakur ahead of Mohammed Shami and included Shreyas, who came into the side after recovering from an injury. (UNI)