The Services team was today banned from this year's Ranji Trophy due to their refusal to go to Srinagar for a match against J&K.

The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) cricket team was scheduled to play a Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at Srinagar from November 3 to November 6.

"However, the SSCB forfeited the match, having expressed its inability to send its cricket team to Srinagar. The SSCB has therefore been disqualified from participating in the 2009-10 edition of the Ranji Trophy, in accordance with the rules of the BCCI pertaining to Domestic Tournaments," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

"A decision on any further action against the SSCB will be taken by the BCCI's Working Committee," the BCCI statement read.

Jammu and Kashmir players, officials and Abdullah were at the ground for the match but the Services team was nowhere to be seen. The forfeiture gave J&K four points and they will now take on Haryana at the same venue from November 10 to 13.

Angry at the no show, Abdullah, who is also Union Minister for new and renewable energy, lambasted the Services team.

"Services have negated what the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister have said, that Kashmir is normal. We have also had ambassadors coming here. This shows that some vested interests don't want Kashmir to normalise," Abdullah fumed.

"I will take this up with the government of India. We were all waiting for the Services. We were here to welcome them. It looks very bad that of all teams, Services decided not to come. It shows a very bad image of India," he told reporters.

"What is the government of India doing?" he thundered.

Services apologise, BCCI firm

Though the Services apologised to the BCCI and offered to play the game if fresh dates were allocated, BCCI stuck to its decision not to lift ban on team.

After their forfeiture led to angry reactions from the J&K Cricket Association, Services went into damage control mode and offered to play the game.

"Services cricket is ready to play in Srinagar. Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) has apologised to the BCCI for the administrative slip-up in dispatch of its team and requested them for fresh dates," a top SSCB official said.

BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla, however, said, "We have taken the decision to disqualify the Services team from playing in this year's Ranji Trophy. Since the decision have already been taken we will not change it."

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Abdullah, meanwhile, said he would take up the matter at the next cabinet meeting and also find out who advised the Services against coming here.

"They have been advised not to come. Now, we will have to find out, who has advised them not to come. This incident has got a much larger picture. It is about, is Kashmir normal or not?"

"Services is saying Kashmir is not normal. To hell with them for that...they want us to burn all the time so that they can remain our masters," a livid Abdullah said.

"It was only few days ago, Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi addressed people in Anantnag without bullet-proof glass which was a positive signal to all that situation in Kashmir is normal," he added.

"The wicket, outfield, pavilion and other faculties are world class. The turf and outfield has been approved by BCCI officials who had been visiting here for reviewing progress of work," he said.

"Since the security forces were removed from the stadium two years ago, the stadium was under renovation. For checking the newly laid turf ahead of Ranji trophy match, the JKCA last month allowed matches of school national tournament on it. The wicket played well and helped both batsmen as well as bowlers," he added.

The JKCA had been in the news just a few weeks ago when an under-22 player Pervez Rasool was detained in Bangalore Chinnasawmy stadium after bomb detectors allegedly pointed towards his kit bag.

He was released after being questioned by the police and JKCA had sought an apology from the Karnataka State Cricket Association for the incident.

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