Kashmir Valley cheers as Parvez Rasool named in India T20 squad

As off-spinner Parvez Rasool earned a call up in the Indian T20 squad, the natives of Bijbehara town in South Kashmir expressed their excitement over the the local boy's inclusion in the national side.

On Monday, the 27-year-old was preparing for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, when he got the news from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he has been included in Indian squad for the upcoming three-match T20 series against England.

Rasool was earlier picked twice for India - on tours of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but has never got a chance to play an international game at home.

Hoping to see Rasool representing the Indian side this time around, Irshad Ahmad Bhatt, a resident of Kashmir, said, "I am feeling really happy that Parvez Rasool has been given opportunity to play against England. Earlier, he was not given a chance to play against Zimbabwe. But this time, I am quite sure he will play. Our blessings are with him. He is first cricketer from Kashmir to have got a chance at international level."

With the inclusion, the spinning all-rounder becomes the first cricketer from the Valley to have got chance to represent the country.

Echoing similar views, another resident Asamullah Bhatt said, "I got the news that Parvez Rasool has been given a chance to represent the T20 side. So, I as well as young cricket fans are confident that he would be given opportunity to play."

His lone opportunity to play for India so far came in 2014 against Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series.

Another fan from Kashmir believes Rasool's inclusion will inspire the aspiring cricketers to work hard and earn a chance to represent their country.

Rasool was named in the 15-member T20 squad as a replacement for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been rested for the upcoming three-match series against England beginning January 26 at Green Park, Kanpur.

Meanwhile, leg-spinner Amit Mishra was also recalled in the side as a replacement for rested Ravinchandran Ashwin.

It will be India's last limited overs series before the 2017 Champions Trophy, where India are the defending champions. The series will also mark the debut of Virat Kohli as the captain of the Indian T20I side.