While the likes of Parvez Rasool and Manzoor (Dar) Pandav are hogging the limelight, the 23-year old young talented cricketer from Srinagar, Ahmad Banday has silently climbed the ladder to become new batting mainstay of J&K cricket.
Within a year after making his first class debut for J&K, Ahmad Banday has become new batting mainstay of J&K cricket team. Coming into limelight last year with a double ton of 214 runs for J&K in Under-23 CK Nayudu trophy, Banday was selected for the Ranji trophy team. Since then he has not looked back and was this year J&K’s top run getter in Ranji Trophy. This season Banday went on to score 414 runs or J&K in Ranji Trophy with the highest score of 102 runs. He emerged as top scorer for J&K Ranji trophy.
He excelled during Vijay Hazare One Day Trophy scoring 274 runs with an average of 54. Soon after, he became the main player to power J&K Under-23 side into quarterfinal of the U-23 BCCI One Day League where he scored 294 runs in six innings with the average of 49 that included three fifties.
Though he made his Ranji debut last season, he was able to represent J&K in shorter format of 50-overs cricket Vijay Hazare trophy in year 2013 against Delhi. In his debut match he went on to score 50.
With J&K top batsman, Ian Dev failing to find his form for the last two years, J&K has found new batting mainstay in shape of Banday. J&K that is mostly known for producing fast bowlers was in need of such batsman and along with Khajuria the duo are now taking team forward. While Parvez Rasool is doing what he does best, that is performing with both bat and ball like a seasoned all-rounder; it was a proper batsman that J&K was in need of. They have found that in shape Ahmad Banday.
“I usually train at Bangalore in Karnataka Institute of Cricket Bangalore (KIOC) due to lack of proper facilities here in J&K. I try to work hard on my game and this season it has worked for me and I was able to contribute for J&K,” Banday said.
About his cricket journey he said, “I got inspired to play cricket from my father and uncle who used to play cricket. My uncle Javed Rafiqui has represented J&K in Ranji trophy. I first played for J&K when I 14 year old in Under-16 tournament. Then I went on to play at junior level of Under-16 and 19 regularly for J&K. At Under-19 level I was able to perform well and that earned me call for North Zone team. I made my zonal debut against West Zone and did well. I went to get selected for Under-19 India Camp in year 2012 and 2013 which were held in Mohali. It was also because of my Under-19 performance that I got into eyes of J&K senior team selectors. They selected me for Vijay Hazare trophy and I made 50 in my debut match against Delhi”.
However, in CK Nayudu Trophy 2016-2017,he scored 214 runs against Himachal Pradesh at Amtar. He became the first Kashmiri player to have ever hit a double ton in a national tournament. Hence ending the tournament with 435 runs in 7 innings at an average of 62 which included a double ton and two fifties and was J&K leading run scorer.
“It was special as it helped me to get into J&K longer format team of Ranji Trophy. It is obvious when you do well you get noticed in the eyes of selectors. Same happened with me and I got into senior side and this year was able to be part of team from firs match. It was this year that I was regular part of J&K senior side. Though I did well but I think I could have done even better. I have always set high standards and expectations for myself,” he said.
About his plans, he said, “I am currently training in Kashmir and will soon leave for Bangalore to play in the event there. Then I am also looking on to play county cricket in England”.
About his inspiration, he said, “In J&K cricket, it is none other than Parvez Rasool , only international cricketer from J&K. he is the real inspiration and to play alongside him is real honor. In international cricketer arena it is Virat Kohli, the way he is scoring runs ever since making his debut is amazing”.
PARVEZ RASOOL ON BANDAY
J&K Ranji trophy skipper has hailed Ahmad Banday for his performance for State in this season but said he has to work hard to keep consistency.
“I think the way he was batting in last some of the games this season, I haven’t seen any JK batsman playing like that. It is too early to say anything about him. At last it will his record or performance that will speak about him. He has to work harder to take his game at the next level not only in batting but in every aspect of the game. I wish him all the best,” he said.
