early times report
JAMMU, Jan 2: Finally, the hard work has paid the all-rounder from the state, Parvez Rassol, who has been included in the 14-member India A squad for the practice match against visiting England on January six at Delhi.
With this achievement, Parvez has become fourth cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir and third from Kashmir Valley to be picked in a national level squad. Surinder Singh Bagal of Jammu was second from J&K to represent the country in India-B against Australia in 2001. Other two cricketers, who have achieved the similar feat are Abid Nabi and Abdul Qayoom.
While Qayoom played the Wills Trophy (the Irani Trophy of the ODIs) for the Wills XI in December 1990 and also played in the Deodhar Trophy in 1996-97, Surender Singh represented North Zone in the 2000-01 Duleep Trophy and played for India B in the 2001-02 NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. However, on earlier occasions, the selectors picked up only pacers from the J&K but this time an allrounder has been named in the national team.
This 24-year old right-hand batsman and slow (off-break) bowler, Parvez has the abilities to impress the selectors. Born in a normal family in Bijbehara, young Parvez has already proved his metal in under-19 group and was subsequently selected by Kings XI Punjab for IPL. Now, this state cricketer will rub the shoulders with the likes of Sreesanth. In fact, Rassol has been rewarded for a strong showing with both bat and ball in J&K's otherwise disappointing ongoing Ranji Trophy season.
He finished on top of both batting and bowling charts for the team with 594 runs, including two centuries, and 33 wickets. Parvez made his debut in first class cricket in 2008 against Himachal Pradesh and has already crossed the thousand runs mark with highest being 171. As a bowler, this polite gentleman cricketer has seven for 41 being his best against Assam in Guwahati thus helped J&K win the match this season. The India A team, led by Abhinav Mukund, doesn't include any player from the teams that have qualified for the Ranji knockouts as the quarter-finals start from January six.
Ishwar Pandey, the Madhya Pradesh seamer, who is the top-wicket taker in Ranji Trophy this season, has been rewarded for his consistence performances.
Haryana seamer Mohit Sharma, who is fourth on the wicket-takers list, has also been included. India A Squad: Abhinav Mukund (Captain), M Vijay, Robin Bist, Kedar Jadhav, Ashok Menaria, Rohit Motwani (wk), Jalaj Saxena, Akshay Darekar, Ishwar Pandey, Sreesanth, Rishi Dhawan, Paras Dogra, Mohit Sharma, Parvez Rassol.
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