Skipping J&K match error of judgement at lower level: Antony

Defence minister AK Antony today said the Services' decision against sending their cricket team to play in a Ranji Trophy match in Srinagar was an "error of judgement in good faith" and was taken at a lower level.

The skipping of the match by the Services had stirred up a political controversy and had prompted the BCCI to ban it from taking part in the tournament this season.

"This is an error of judgement in good faith and this decision was taken at a lower level," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of a defence awards ceremony here. Antony said the people who took the decision had thought Services' participation in the game there may "aggravate the situation" in the state.

"The moment we came to know about it, we conveyed that the Services are willing to participate. But by that time the BCCI had already taken a decision," he said urging the media to not to make a "big issue" of the whole episode.

Antony said normally, the top civilian and military leadership were not involved in the sports-related activities of the armed forces.

"We normally don't interfere in these sports activities of the Services. Even in the Services, the chiefs are normally not taking decisions on where and how to play and other issues," he said.