Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir captain Parvez Rasool hopes his impressive all-round performance in the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament would earn him a recall to the national team soon.
In 2013, Rasool, a spin-bowling all-rounder, became the first cricketer from the state to get selected for India after he was picked up for the ODI series in Zimbabwe. Though he never got a chance to play, Rasool didn't lose hope.
Rasool has been key to Jammu and Kashmir's success in the Ranji Trophy this season, when the teamy made it to the quarter-finals for the first time in Ranji history. Rasool struck a century and picked up six wickets against Punjab in a quarter-final tie but his efforts went in vain.
"Although budding players in Kashmir don't have even 10 percent of facilities available to their counterparts in other states of the country, I am confident of getting a place to represent my country this year," Rasool told IANS in an interview.
Rasool said that with proper exposure and infrastructure, Jammu and Kashmir can give top Ranji teams like Mumbai a tough fight.
"The biggest problem faced by our boys is the lack of exposure and infrastructural facilities. We don't have even 10 percent of the facilities for our budding cricketers as compared to Mumbai and other states of the country," Rasool said.
"We have been performing very well despite the lack of the needed facilities. This proves there is no dearth of talent, but they are unable to realise their dreams because there are little facilities to hone their skills," he added.