JKCA shortlists 48 players for senior T20 trials

Srinagar, Jun 29: As part of the preparations for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has shortlisted 48 probable cricketers from a pool of over 200 players for the senior men’s T20 trials.

A JKCA official, while speaking to Greater Kashmir, said that the shortlisted players will be distributed into three teams, which will face off in a series of trial matches scheduled from July 4 to 8, and that each team was expected to play two matches.

“These 48 players have been picked after a thorough screening process, and the trial matches will help selectors assess match performance, fitness, and consistency,” the JKCA official said.

The official added that the final 15-member squad will be selected based on the players’ performance in these matches, along with their fitness levels and adherence to set protocols.

Among the prominent names in the 48-member list are Shubham Khajuria, Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Vivrant Sharma, Yudhvir Singh, Aquib Nabi, Nasir Lone, and Abid Mushtaq — all of whom have either represented J&K in previous seasons or featured in top-tier domestic circuits.

The trials also include promising youngsters, who have shown strong potential. Notable among them are Waseem Bashir, Mujtaba Yousuf, Sahil Lotra, Henan Malik, Suryansh Raina, Qamran Iqbal, Musaif Aijaz, Tehzeem Tak and several other players.

He said that following the matches, the JKCA plans to conduct a skill-specific camp aimed at fine-tuning the selected players ahead of the national-level T20 tournament. This will include focused sessions on power-hitting, death bowling, game awareness, and conditioning.

Meanwhile, the official fixtures for the SMAT 2025 are yet to be released; the JKCA has already kickstarted its process to ensure a well-prepared and competitive squad representing Jammu and Kashmir in the domestic T20 season.