Cricket has an unmatched passion in Kashmir, where the game goes beyond entertainment and becomes an emotional show. From euphoric celebrations to heartbreaking losses, cricket evokes immense enthusiasm among fans. Over the years, several cricketers from Kashmir have made their mark at national and international levels.

Suresh Raina
A versatile player, Suresh Raina was an essential part of the Indian cricket squad in the 2000s. Hailing from Rainawari in Srinagar, his family had shifted to the northern region of India in the 1980s. The young cricketer from Kashmir became one of the most noted players in India and abroad. Indian coach Gary Kirsten had praised the heroics of the player during India’s win in the 2011 World Cup.

Vivek Razdan
Vivek Razdan was a bowling sensation who made a presentation in India’s cricket team during the 1989 tour of Pakistan. His Test debut was remarkable when he took five wickets in Sialkot, giving his country a first-innings lead. What was more interesting is that he had appeared in just two first-class matches before getting a position in the national side, an achievement that is rarely possible in cricket.

Parvez Rasool
Nicknamed the “Bijbehara Blaster,” Parvez Rasool became the first Kashmiri to play both in the Ranji Trophy for Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian national team. Though he remained on the bench during India’s Zimbabwe tour, he impressed in domestic cricket. He notably took seven wickets against Australia while playing for India A, earning widespread admiration in Kashmiri cricket circles.

Abid Nabi
This young fast bowler got noticed upon five wicket-taking in an Under-19 game against England. However, a stint in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) puts paid to any chances of representing India as the BCCI put that on a ban. He is still a name doing well in local cricket.

Haroon Rasheed Dar
A Pakistani cricketer who played 12 ODIs and almost 20 Test matches between 1977 and 1983. In 1979, he was beaten by a crowd after a very poor batting session. Later, he is famous to have given an introduction to 16-year-old Shahid Afridi and the lad went on to score the fastest ODI century ever at the time.

Tahir Naqash
Tahir Naqash played for Pakistan between 1980 and 1985, taking part in 15 Tests and 40 ODIs. He was part of the World Cup squad in 1983 alongside the likes of Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz. A member of a Kashmiri family born in Lahore; he was always an important element of Pakistan’s pace attack.

Salman Butt
Salman Butt is a former Pakistani cricketer and is currently a Lahore Qalandars player. He was an opening batsman. His career, however, received a huge setback when he got involved in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that put him under a five-year ban. Though controversial, he remains one of the leading openers of Pakistan for his generation.

Afaq Raheem
Mirpur, Kashmir, batsman Afaq Raheem who played Test cricket for Pakistan v. Sri Lanka. Other than a few names in first-class cricket, not much of note was heard. As Kashmir is divided between two nations, cricketers from the region figure in both Indian and Pakistani teams.

Umran Malik
Originally a net bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Umran Malik was brought into the squad when Thangarasu Natarajan was unavailable due to COVID. He has risen steeply in IPL 2021 by clocking 153 km/h (95 mph). Indian skipper Virat Kohli also praised his express pace and made his international debut in June 2022 from India against Ireland.

Moeen Ali
Exceptional all-rounding with his roots in Kashmir, Moeen Ali was a vital element for England. His balanced bat and ball capabilities make him an invaluable asset to the team in England. Beard and aggressive games have made his name as an elite cricketer.