To win hearts, govt pushes for J&K cricketer in India side

[game_changerr]

With an eye on defusing the tense political situation in the state and building a local icon, the Indian government is understood to be pushing for talented Jammu & Kashmir cricketer Parvez Rasool to be fast-tracked to the national side. Such a move would be exceedingly popular in the Kashmir Valley, where cricket has a huge resonance. The central governmentÃÔ stock is currently low among many there following the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru earlier this month for his role in the 2001 attack on Parliament . A source said the government had conveyed its desire to the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) through a senior board official. Not surprisingly, no one would confirm this on record. This is not about showering undue favour on Rasool. The 24-year-old all-rounder shone this Ranji Trophy season, finishing as the highest run-scorer as well as wicket-taker in J&K. The visiting Australians too found his off-spin bowling too hot to handle. Playing for the Board PresidentÃÔ XI in a two-day warm-up tie in Chennai, Rasool captured seven wickets. Asked how keen the government was to see Rasool fast-tracked to the India team, senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla would only say: Ÿe have always wanted Jammu & Kashmir cricket to be promoted. The official policy of the government has always been to promote sports in the region. And about wanting a cricketer from Kashmir like Rasool playing at the highest level, he said: ŵhe feeling is always that. The cricketerÃÔ career is a great story of hope, especially in light of his brush with the authorities three years ago. On October 17, 2009, he had arrived in Bangalore with his Jammu & Kashmir U-22 team when the Karnataka anti-terror squad detained him after allegedly finding traces of explosives in his kit bag. The player, staying in the Karnataka State Cricket Association during the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament, for which security had been tightened, was interro-gated for around 10 hours in police custody before being released. All that is well in the past now, and the young cricketer attributes his splendid season to the guidance of spin wizard Bishan Singh Bedi, who is the coach of the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy team. The former India captain sees him as a potential India player. "I look for technical correctness and he has it," Bedi said recently. While Rasool has made a much bigger splash thanks to cricket's hold over the country's sports fans, Kashmir also celebrated when two footballers from the Valley, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmed, were selected to play for India. Impressed by his bowling, the Pune Warriors India are set to offer him a contract for the coming Indian Premier League season as well. source-hindustan times

[game_changerr]

appeasment policy?????may be

[rkt.india]

Not only Rassol, pacer Ramdayal has been quite impressive too who was found by Srinath and TA Shehkar in a fast bowling hunt 4-5 years ago. His FC record is though still very average after 13 FC matches but list A has been very good.

[NareshK]

He has done well in FC as an all rounder.

[Number]

As if we have always had pure merit based selections throughout our history.

[shuraim]

crap theory,crap system.

[G_B_]

well if somebody like murali vijay can get into the side based on averaging 17 in the ranjis i cant see the harm. however the government in principle should keep its nose out of cricket. you cant have a token kashmiri or a token (any religion) just to keep people happy. India has suffered in the past as a result of it. As for Rasool, he has an IPL contract. IMO the BCCI need to schedule a series with the like of Ireland Zimbabwe etc and play the A team in which players like Rasool are given a cap. We should be playing the likes of Ireland and Scotland and Zim and Kenya a lot more and use our tier 2 or tier 3 guys

[Needforspeed]

A source said the government had conveyed its desire to the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) through a senior board official. Not surprisingly, no one would confirm this on record.

Maybe its the newspaper's way of creating some news..A figment of their imagination.

[CSK Fan]

But will Kashmiri Pandits get a chance too? Huh, huh?

[vivek_singh3187]

crap theory' date='crap system.[/quote'] We aren't discussing about Pakistaan...:hysterical:

[Trichromatic]

But will Kashmiri Pandits get a chance too? Huh' date=' huh?[/quote'] Raina has been shown doors. :protest:

[Vilander]

well if somebody like murali vijay can get into the side based on averaging 17 in the ranjis i cant see the harm. however the government in principle should keep its nose out of cricket. you cant have a token kashmiri or a token (any religion) just to keep people happy. India has suffered in the past as a result of it. As for Rasool, he has an IPL contract. IMO the BCCI need to schedule a series with the like of Ireland Zimbabwe etc and play the A team in which players like Rasool are given a cap. We should be playing the likes of Ireland and Scotland and Zim and Kenya a lot more and use our tier 2 or tier 3 guys

hey he is from tamil nadu, we demand similar sub-nation status like Manipur,Karnataka,J&k etc.. :protest:

[Dumbbells]

Great news if this is true.