Valley upset with indifference towards Rasool

It is not just Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, but the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and cricket fans in the Valley are upset at cricketer Parvez Rasool not getting a chance to make his international debut for India during the just-concluded tour of Zimbabwe.

Rouf Ahmad, a former batsman and the JKCA convener, strongly feels that Rasool, a spin bowling all-rounder, deserved a chance.

"They had already won the series and Parvez Rasool should have been given a chance. I completely agree with Omar Abdullah who said if they never wanted to play him, why take him to Zimbabwe," Ahmad told IANS.

Another JKCA member Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, also a selector, said Rasool could have easily been accommodated for the fifth and inconsequential ODI by dropping a fast bowler.

"He should have been played one or two matches. If they dropped Shikhar Dhawan to give a chance to (Cheteshwar) Pujara, they should have dropped a pacer to accommodate Parvez," Bhat told IANS.

Jammu and Kashmir's Ranji coach Abdul Qayoom Bagow, who has also coached Rasool for 15 years, was also disappointed.

"Naturally, as his coach I am disappointed. But, I am sure when he gets his chance, he will perform very well. Why they did not play Parvez while others were given a chance would best be known to the team management and the selectors," Bagow asked while speaking to IANS.

The Valley's cricket fans also argue that Rasool deserved a chance.

"If (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni had been the captain during the series he would definitely have played Parvez. Dhoni has been known for giving a chance to upcoming players and that is why today India has the most formidable cricket team with huge reserves available in every department of the game", said Farooq Ahmad Banday, 54, a cricket lover here.

Some feel Virat Kohli, the captain for the Zimbabwe series, played safe for a 5-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.

"Kohli probably did not play Parvez Rasool to assure a clean sweep against the less challenging Zimbabwe team. Kohli wanted to cement his claim as the Indian captain after Dhoni", said Maajid Ganai, another cricket fan.