KL Report
Srinagar
The non-inclusion of Kashmir’s only cricketer in team India Parvez Rasool in the just concluded Zimbabwe tour has evoked sharp criticism from the sports fraternity across Valley. Rasool is the only member of the 15-member squad who has not seen any action in the tour.
While talking to Srinagar based news gathering agency Global News Service (GNS), Parvez’s father Ghulam Rasool said we are hopeful that he (Parvez) will make it to playing XI of Indian cricket team in the upcoming tours. “It is a decision of team management and we respect it with our hearts,” he said, adding that Parvez has not lost hope and he is waiting for a chance to prove himself.
Rasool, who shot to fame with a brilliant all-round performance in the Ranji Trophy last season by scoring 594 runs and grabbing 33 wickets was not selected in any of the matches played during the Zimbabwe tour.
Expressing his disappointment over Parvez’s exclusion Aaquib Mushtaq, a young cricket follower said I was expecting that he (Parvez) will be given a chance to play his international debut, but “unfortunately, he was not given chance. Everyone here was optimistic that he will bring laurels to the state this time.”
It is worth to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister, Omar Abdullah had also expressed his disappointment that the cricketer has not been given a game even though India has taken an unassailable lead in five-match the ODI series.
The Union Home Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shashi Tharoor had also tweeted regarding Parvez’s non-inclusion in the team. “Greatly disappointed that Parvez Rasool is not playing today. Bizarre selection! Could easily have rested Jadeja & Raina for Rasool & Rahane,” Tharoor had tweeted.
When contacted former Indian cricketer and former JKCA coach Bishen Singh Bedi, refused to comment on the issue.
Parvez’s selection to national squad was fast-tracked after he took seven wickets in one innings of a tour game against visiting Australians earlier this year.
The all-rounder cashed in on the opportunity to become the first cricketer from the valley to bag an IPL contract when he was signed by Pune Warriors India ahead of the sixth edition of the cash-rich T20 league.
