Parvel Rasool eyes a national call-up for the England ODI series

The journey of off-spinner Parvez Rasool hasn’t been a story worth telling. He has seen its fair share of ups and downs but the hardworking Jammu and Kashmir lad has faced everything thrown at him with gallantry be it on or off the field. Three and a half years ago, Rasool became only the 2nd cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir after Vivek Razdan to get a national call-up for the Zimbabwe tour under Virat Kohli.

Though he didn’t appear in any of the matches in the series, Rasool eventually made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2014 and finished with figures of 2/60 in his 10 overs. It is the only match he has played in international cricket so far.

Following an impressive 2016-17 Ranji season where has scored 629 runs and taken 38 wickets, Rasool is hopeful that a national call-up is not far away. “I am in good rhythm and also hundred percent fit to make a comeback. After the last season, I had worked on a few aspects of my bowling and it held me in good stead. I also benefited from NCA’s fitness camp under Anil Kumble,” Rasool was quoted as saying by the Deccan Chronicle. He also appeared in the first ever pink ball tournament in India, the Duleep Trophy earlier in the year.

With the big names like Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav expected to be rested for the ODI series against England, Rasool could be back in the fray. The selectors are likely to announce the limited overs squad in the first week of January.

“In the Ranji, except for a game in Baroda we played almost all the matches on flat tracks. There was no turn or help from the pitch. Taking 38 wickets has boosted my confidence. It’s only natural to expect a long rope to showcase my ability,” concluded Rasool who was recently released by his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.