Sabyasachi Bagchi, Kolkata: Parvez Rasool on Saturday became the sixth Indian and second Kashmiri bowler to take a hat-trick in List A cricket. Few days ago his team mate Mohammed Mudhasir took a hat-trick against Chhattisgarh at the Eden Gardens and today Parvez Rasool has repeated the same thing against Saurashtra in a Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter at Kalyani. He took the wickets of Sheldon Jackson, Chirag Jani and Jaydev Unadkat from his first three deliveries of the 21st over. His recent controversy for chewing gum during the National Anthem in his T-20 debut match for India, to the IPL and politics in Jammu & Kashmir cricket, he interacted everything in an exclusive interview with www.xtratime.in
Here goes the conversation:
XT: How were you feeling after scalping the maiden hat-trick of your career?
Rasool: It was a great feeling. I was over the moon. Thanks to support of my teammates and for their trust on me. After defending a low total of 170 against a side like Saurashtra and then restricting them to 147 is a shear achievement. Apart from the hat-trick, I scored a crucial 53 runs knock which helped my side. So it’s a nice feeling to be on the winning side but unfortunately we lost two or three matches with small margins. After doing well in this year’s Mushtaq Ali T-20 Inter Zonal tournament two players were selected from Kashmir in All India Zonal T-20’s but it is really painful that we couldn’t do well in this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy.
XT: Extra motivated to play against Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Jharkhand?
Rasool: Obviously. I would like to take his wicket which would be special to me and as a senior player it’s my responsibility as well. Not only with the ball, I would like to contribute with the bat as well by scoring some runs to help my side.
XT: Whats your point on the recent controversy regarding the National Anthem and the chewing gum issue?
Rasool: This is not the first time it has happened with us. We the Kashmiris are dragged into controversies. Previously it used to happen with IAS and IPS officers. Even, the Dangal movie actress Zaira Wasim too was unnecessarily dragged into a political controversy. My earnest request through your website is, please don’t drag us into political matters as we want to lead a normal life and want to continue our sport.
XT: Did you get frustrated after not getting an opportunity to grab an IPL contract?
Rasool: A kind of u can say. After scalping 38 wickets and scoring 630 runs in the domestic season, you expect an IPL contract and that too after debuting for India recently in the T-20 format. But I have no hard feelings. I will continue improving my game. IPL contract and selection are not in my hands.
XT: How was the feeling when you debuted for India from Kashmir after Vivek Razdan?
Rasool: Yes, it was a nice feeling. After Vivek Razdan Sir I made my state proud. I was the first Kashmiri to get an IPL contract too. So I always ask my teammates to do something extraordinary to get noticed.
XT: What is the exact problem lying with J&K cricket?
Rasool: Its better not to speak about our officials. We have no proper infrastructure and facilities in Kashmir and not even a proper training ground. We have only two grounds in Jammu and Kashmir. The association doesn’t care about this. The political people get into the cricketing matters and spoil the whole system. That is why talented players from Kashmir are getting unnoticed. I want the BCCI to look into the matter with immediate effect and take action.
XT: Do u know about any Kashmiri footballer, who have played in Kolkata ?
Rasool: Yes I know Ishfaq Ahmed and Mehrajuddin Wadoo! They are inspirations for us. Our state must utilize their talent and experience to nurture junior footballers and mentor them.