Rasool relieved to be given another chance

Cricket365
July 27, 2014

Uncapped India all-rounder Parvez Rasool is relieved to be back in the international frame, and is hoping that the ODI series against Bangladesh will at last allow him to make his debut.

He has been playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL recently, getting three games without much success, but his domestic efforts have caused selectors to notice him and add him to the three-ODI squad for June.

Rasool was part of the squad to tour Zimbabwe last year but didn't get a chance to play, and he feels he has improved greatly since then, especially in the Ranji Trophy for Jammu and Kashmir.

Rasool told <i>PTI</i>: "Obviously, you play cricket because you want to represent India. It was a dream come true when I was selected for the Zimbabwe tour. This time it's more of a relief that I am back where I want to belong.

"I firmly believe good performance in Ranji Trophy never goes unnoticed. I had scored close to 600 runs and taken more than 35 wickets.

"If I am in the Indian team, it is because of my performances for J and K. Some of them were match-winning performances. I was unlucky that my century and five-wicket haul against Punjab went in-vain."

Rasool is also JK's skipper, which he feels has upped his game as the burden of leadership has forced him to provide match-winning performances as examples for his charges.

He said: "Being captain means that you have to lead by example. We had to do something special and I had to shoulder more responsibility. That made me a better cricketer."

When asked about his chances of playing, he remained modest, saying: "That's a decision of the team management. My job is to remain ready for the opportunity."