Cricket banned in 28 Haryana villages

Describing the game as "meaningless", like today's remix music, the Daadan khap panchayat - a council representing 28 villages - last week decided that their children and youngsters keep away from the game that has the Indian sub-continent fans going crazy.

The decision was taken at a panchayat meet held at Uchhana village in Jind district in the heart of Haryana's landed community of Jats.

"If our elders do not want us to play the game, we will follow their wishes. We can play other traditional games like kabaddi and wrestling," said Ramesh Kumar, a youth here.

Ironically, Haryana has produced cricketing legend Kapil Dev who led India to its only World Cup win in 1983.

The action of the khap panchayat is apparently not without reason.

"This game is making the young boys go astray. They are into betting and gambling. This also leads to fights. Its better that the youngsters stay away from this game and don't even watch it," said panchayat head Tewa Singh.

Other village elders like Ram Singh agree that the sport was ruining the youth. "They should be playing football, kabaddi, volleyball and other traditional games instead," he added.

Pictures of players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and M.S. Dhoni have also disappeared from walls of homes in these 28 villages. (IANS)

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