With young Parvez Rasool etching his name into record books after being named in the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe, JKCA and former cricketers today termed his selection as a historic day for the state and said his elevation will open up doors for many other youngsters of the region.
"I am extremely happy on his success. He has reached here by the dint of his hard work. I wish him best of luck and pray for his good performance and victory of the Indian team in the forthcoming series in Zimbabwe," Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) president, Farooq Abdullah said.
The 24-year-old all-rounder today created history by becoming the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be named in the Indian team as the selectors opted to rest captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and four other key players for the upcoming ODI tour of Zimbabwe.
The budding cricketer from South Kashmir's Bijbihara area has been in contention for national selection for a while now and he got the nod in the 15-member squad after the selectors decided to rest off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the five-match ODI series, to be held from July 24 to August 3 at Harare and Bulawayo.
"It is a great thing for me. No news can be bigger for a coach than his ward being selected in the Indian team. It is the happiest day of my life. I feel today that I have accomplished my goal, the hardwork that we put in has paid off," an elated Abdul Qayoom, who has seen Rasool grow as a cricketer from close quarters, told PTI.
Asked what does it mean for J&K cricket, Qayoom who also belongs to Bijbihara said: "It has opened the doors for J&K cricketers and I believe that in future you will see many more cricketers from the state in action at the highest level.
