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Parvez Rasool in Team India: ‘Inshaallah will make Kashmir proud’
SHABIR AHMAD. Dated: 7/5/2013 11:22:22 PM
BIJBEHARA, July 5: The dream of young Kashmiri cricketer, Parvez Rasool, came true today when he was included in the 15-member Indian cricket team for a one day series against Zimbabwe to be played later this month.
Hailing from a middle class family of Bijbehara, considered to be the hub of cricket, Parvez Rasool, 23 started playing cricket at school level.
He made it to under-19 after performing well in district level cricket tournaments. Keeping his performance up Parvez was selected for many high pro-file cricket tournaments including Ranji trophy.
Only last year he got a chance to play in the high profile IPL. Though he did not get a chance to bat but his brilliant spell perhaps took him to the international cricket which has always been his dream.
“It was my dream to be a part of Indian team and today my dream has come true. My joy knew no bounds to hear about my selection in the team. I fall short of words to express my joy for making it to international cricket,” Parvez told media persons at his home in Bijbehara.
On being asked about the source of his inspiration Parvez gave the credit to his father and local coaches. “My father has always inspired me in my game. He always supported me like a friend. Besides my local coaches have too been supportive,” said Parvez.
He added that he will try his best to come up to the expectations of his supporters. “I believe that besides my hard work and support of father it is the prayers of my cricket loving well wishers that my dream came true. So I will try my best to come up to what they expect from me. Inshaallah I will make Kashmir proud,” said Parvez.
Appealing the young cricketers of Kashmir to work hard he said, “We have many talented players in Kashmir. I appeal all the young talented cricketers to work hard and leave the rest to God.”
As soon as the news about Parvez’s selection was out people in huge numbers started thronging his home to congratulate him. People were seen shaking hands and hugging Parvez.
Interestingly Parvez was at a local cricket ground at Bijbehara training some youngsters when a friend told him about his inclusion in India’s cricket team.
Parvez did not wait for the confirmation but the first thing he did was to kneel on ground in prayers. “I performed Sajda (prostration to God) to thank Allah for the favour. It is a big day of my life,” he said. There was celebration in the ground with friends and cricket supporters hugging him and lifting him on their shoulders.
He became the first Kashmiri to make it to India’s top team.
It may be recalled here that Parvez was detained by Bangalore police while representing J&K in C K Naidu cricket tournament in October 2009, when it claimed to have recovered explosives from his bag. He was grilled during questioning and finally released as the cops released that he was innocent.
Parvez wants to leave that incident behind. “I have forgotten that incident and I wish everybody else forgets it,” he said.
Parvez’s stunning performance in this year’s Ranji trophy team helped him win a place in Indian team.
The all rounder helped J&K team win two matches against Assam and Kerela by scoring two centuries. “I had good season. I scored 594 runs and took 33 wickets”, he said.
Parvez is the second generation cricketer in his family for which cricket is the first love.
His father Ghulam Rasool Zargar played for local club Bijbehara sports for 20 years. He had to settle as a driver in a government department to run his family.