Rasool becomes first J-K player to play for India

Off-spinner Parveez Rasool on Sunday became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India in a One-Day International when he took the field against Bangladesh in the series-opener in Mirpur.

Off-spinner Parvez Rasool on Sunday became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India in a One-Day International when he took the field against Bangladesh in the series-opener in Mirpur.

The 25-year-old, who hails from the town of Bij Behara in the southern Kashmir valley district of Anantnag, was first selected for the Indian team in the 2013 tour of Zimbabwe but could not make the playing XI on that trip.

He picked up two for 60 off 10 overs on his international debut.

Rasool finally managed to break into the team in the ongoing series from which India has rested some key players such as regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

He was also the first cricketer from the state to get an IPL contract when he signed up for the now defunct Pune Warriors. He turned up for Sunrisers Hyderabad the recently concluded IPL season.

Rasool scored 594 runs at 54 with two centuries, and claimed 33 wickets at 18.09 to finish as the third-highest wicket-taker among spinners in the tournament in the seven games he played for his state.