Indian cricketer in focus:Parvez Rasool – From terror suspect to Team India

Who is he?

Parvez Ghulam Rasool Zargar, or Parvez Rasool, is a right-hand batsman and off-break bowler who plays domestic cricket for J&K (Jammu & Kashmir) as an all-rounder. Born on February 13, 1989 at Bijbehara, J&K, Rasool made his first-class debut in November 2008 in the Ranji Trophy Plate League game versus Himachal Pradesh at Dharamsala.

A classical off-spinner, Rasool honed his skills under former J&K coach Bishan Singh Bedi. He has got his first call-up to the Indian team for the tour to Zimbabwe, which begins on July 24, and by doing so has become the first player from J&K to be selected in the national team.

What has he done so far?

Parvez Rasool was the standout performer for his home team in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season, finishing as the side’s top-scorer and leading wicket-taker. He scored 594 runs (including 2 centuries) at an average of 54, and took 33 wickets at at an average of 18.09 in the seven Ranji Trophy games that he played in the season.

He was selected to play for India A in a List A game against the touring England team in January 2013, but he couldn’t do anything of note in that game. He finished wicket-less in the three overs he bowled and didn’t get a chance to bat.

But Rasool showed his skills the following month in the match he played for Board President’s XI against the visiting Aussie team. He finished with bowling figures of 7/45 in the first innings, and caught the eye of everyone watching. He followed it up with a score of 36 while batting at number 8 in the match.

In 17 first-class matches, Rasool has scored 1003 runs at an average of 38.57 with 3 centuries and a highest score of 171. He has taken 46 wickets at average of 31.04, with a personal best bowling performance of 7/41.

What is his claim to fame?

Rasool has grabbed the headlines for being the first player from J&K to be selected in the national team. Coming from a politically-troubled state and playing for a team which has won just 16 of 242 Ranji matches over 62 years, his selection has rightly given his state teammates and people in the Kashmir valley a lot to cheer about.

Rasool is also the first J&K player to get a contract in the Indian Premier League when he played for Pune Warriors in the 2013 season. He refused to promote a liquor brand, which was the team’s sponsor, and covered the brand’s logo on his jersey with a duct tape during the matches.

In 2009, Rasool made news for the wrong reasons when he was detained by the Bangalore police on suspected terror charges when he was in the city to play an U-22 match. The allegations were later proven to be false, and Rasool was released.

What has been said about him?

Bishan Singh Bedi, India legend and former J&K coach: “Rasool is one bowler who isn’t afraid to flight the ball, and he loves to attack.”

“The first time when I saw Parvez after taking over in 2011, I was stunned by his easy and side-ways action. And when I said that I have not seen anyone like you for a long time, he probably got a bit nervous. But his real journey started from the next season when he started to show his real worth. There was nothing that I could have advised him, apart from little bit of fine-tuning which every youngster needs during my stint with J&K. And I hope that with a little bit of luck and backing from his skipper, Parvez has everything that a player needs to be successful at the international level.”

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta, who worked with Rasool at Pune Warriors: “What I liked about him was his ability to soak in information. Even our coach Allan Donald was impressed with his work ethics and sincerity. He is humble, always ready to learn and is a team man to the core.”

Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah: “Have heard the great news about Parvez Rasool being selected to play for India against Zimbabwe. Well-deserved selection. Make us proud now.” “He has made it to the team on the back of a very strong performance in recent months; his being a Kashmiri is incidental.”

What can we expect from him?

Rasool will find limited opportunities to play at Zimbabwe, as the team is likely to play Amit Mishra and Ravindra Jadeja instead in the playing XI. He might get a look in if Mishra is taken for runs in the initial games, or if the team management decides to experiment with the team line-up.

However, by also selecting him in the India A squad that will tour South Africa, the selectors have shown that they are willing to keep faith and give chances to the player to prove himself.

As Bedi rightly put it, “His opportunity has come and it’s up to him to take it”. Rasool will be aware of the task at hand, and will certainly try to make the most of it.