Omar Beigh presents toss coin at ICC T20 World Cup

Srinagar, Feb 16: When the toss coin went up at the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 match between Afghanistan and UAE, it wasn’t just the start of a game. For a brief moment, it marked the arrival of a Kashmiri on cricket’s biggest stage. Holding that coin was Omar Beigh, Managing Director of Arise Hyundai Kashmir. In that brief but symbolic moment, Beigh was carrying Kashmir with him.

Beigh had been chosen to present the toss coin at the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 fixture between Afghanistan and UAE, a rare honour reserved for top-performing Hyundai dealers across India. Among them, he was the only representative from Jammu & Kashmir and third from north India.

“It was really a great experience,” Beigh said while speaking to Greater Kashmir recalling the moment. “Being one person from a small place like Kashmir and representing yourself on an international stage is a very big thing. It was very inspiring.”

 A reward for performance

The opportunity came through an internal contest run by Hyundai Motor India Limited, one of the principal sponsors of the global cricket tournament. The initiative recognised top-performing dealerships across the country, offering a select few the chance to be part of the toss ceremony, a ritual that signals the start of every cricket match and commands the attention of millions worldwide.

From North India, only three dealers were selected. Two were from Punjab. The third was Beigh, and with him, Kashmir found a place on cricket’s grand stage.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, Arise Hyundai was the only dealership selected,” he said. “It was a proud moment for all of us.”

Pride back home

While the ceremony lasted only a few minutes, its emotional impact lingered much longer, especially back in Srinagar.

“Throughout the day, I kept receiving calls and messages,” Beigh said. “People were saying they were proud that someone from Kashmir was representing them at an international level.”

At his office, the feeling was no different. His team, he said, celebrated the achievement as their own.

“It is not just me. It is my team and the people of Kashmir who trusted and supported us. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

 Beyond a ceremonial moment

For Beigh, the experience was not merely about standing on a cricket field. It was a reminder of how far local enterprise can reach.

“Representing Arise Hyundai at such an international event is both an honour and a responsibility,” he said. “Being the only Hyundai dealership from Jammu & Kashmir to be part of this platform makes it especially meaningful.”

His journey reflects a broader shift underway in Kashmir, where a growing number of young people are turning to entrepreneurship amid limited conventional job opportunities.

 A message for aspiring entrepreneurs

Beigh’s advice to them is simple, but rooted in experience.

“Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy,” he said. “You need patience and focus. Dream big. Nothing is impossible.”

He paused, reflecting on the path that led him to that global stage.

“Where we stand today is because of the support of our people. They trusted us. And when people trust you, you must work hard to honour that trust.”

 A moment that travelled far

The toss coin ceremony itself lasted only seconds, the captains assembled, the coin flipped, the match began.

But for Kashmir, the moment meant much more.

It was proof that even from the quiet streets of Srinagar Kashmir, one can walk into the centre of a global arena, and belong.