Parvez Rasool first from J&K team in Indian cricket squad

SRINAGAR/CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI (TNN): As a kid he often played cricket on the deserted streets of Bijbehara, a small town in south Kashmir, whenever separatists shut down the Valley. In 2009, he was detained and questioned by the Bangalore police for alleged links to a terror plot outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. But in the end, Parvez Rasool's talent and resolve proved to be stronger than any hurdle that circumstance could throw his way. On Friday, the 24-year-old son of a humble shopkeeper became the first cricketer from the strife-torn state to be selected for the Indian cricket team. "I wanted to prove I am a cricketer, not a terrorist," he told TOI on phone after being named for the Zimbabwe tour later this month. Spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi, a mentor to the J&K cricket team, put Rasool's achievement in perspective. "The cricketers there have nothing to look forward to. There is hardly any facility and no local tournaments. To have come such a long way is phenomenal," Bedi told TOI. The middle-order batsman, who also bowls classical off-spin, has been a trailblazer right through his career. Earlier this year, he became the first Kashmiri to play in the IPL (Pune Warriors). He was also the first player from the Valley to play for India A. In February earlier this year, Rasool underlined his bowling skills by scalping seven for 45 for the Board President's XI against the visiting Australians. He also had a terrific Ranji season for Jammu and Kashmir picking up 33 wickets and scoring 594 runs. "I was expecting a call-up (to the national team). I had a very consistent domestic season and a good tour game against the Australians," Rasool said, rather candidly. Cricket runs in the family which hails from the Anantnag district. His father Ghulam Rasool Zargar loves the game and his elder brother Asif represented Jammu and Kashmir in domestic T20 championships. "Parvez is my second son. I brought them up in a free atmosphere burdening neither of them with the problem of earning a livelihood," his father Zargar said. Parvez was born in 1989 when militancy was knocking at the doors of Kashmir. "But my sons were only mad about the game," Zargar said. Former J&K cricketer Abdul Qayoom, who has coached Rasool said, "No news can be bigger for a coach than his ward being selected for the Indian team. It is the happiest day of my life. Today I have accomplished my goal. The hard work we put in has paid off." Never one to miss an opportunity to score a brownie point, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Have heard the great news about Parvez Rasool being selected to play for India against Zimbabwe. Well-deserved selection. Make us proud now..." Consistency and accuracy are Rasool's twin signatures in domestic cricket. "Be it domestic cricket or international matches, it is important to be accurate. Otherwise, you'll be punished. My strength is accuracy and control over my flight, so I'll stick to it," Rasool said. Bedi says Rasool is a technically accomplished cricketer. "Bowling or batting, he is technically very sound. He is a classical off-spinner and doesn't need to bowl any doosras or teesras," said the former India captain. He might have enjoyed a successful run till now, but Bedi also believes that Rasool needs to adjust fast at the international level. "He did well against Australia because he was in good rhythm. Now he had a longish gap, he must recover quickly. I am glad that he didn't play many IPL games. I've told him to rub it into his mind that his target is the Test cap," Bedi said. For the poster boy of Kashmir cricket, only the sky is the limit.