J&K skipper Parvez Rasool while lamenting persistent losses in the ongoing Vijay Hazare trophy on Friday said that J&K cricket team is in rebuilding process and need of the hour is to back the youngsters.
J&K has lost four consecutive matches in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy being played in Tamil Nadu. The team has come under serious criticism back home for lack of wins and poor batting performances with the questions being raised on selection.
Welcoming the criticism, star cricketer Parvez Rasool said that it is a good thing that people are closely monitoring the performance of the team with which they are closely associated, but at the same time, criticism should be constructive and not based on personal grudges.
“It is not a hidden fact that we have failed to produce any favourable result in the first four matches. However, at the same time, the team has played well in two matches including the one against Jharkhand. Bowling first, we delivered well and at one point of time, Jarkhand was strugling at 88 for 6 wickets, but we lost our way in the middle. Before criticizing the youngsters whom we are backing, one should keep in mind they too want to deliver to their best in order to secure their place in the team,” Parvez said.
“This team mostly comprises of youngsters and one should not expect overnight miracles from them. We are trying to back these youngsters and give them ample chances in order to prove their talent. It is about building the team for the future and even in coming matches, we expect the team to do well. Moreover, J&K team has never been a dominant force in national cricket arena. But we are trying our best and results will come soon,” he said.
Tough Conditions
The only international cricketer of the State highlighted the fact that most of the players in J&K team have not played in the conditions that are in offering at Tamil Nadu and they are finding it difficult to adapt to the conditions.
“If we look closely at the whole Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament, all the matches have been high scoring affairs except the matches being played in our group at Tamil Nadu. In our group almost all matches have been low scoring affairs and that tells the story about playing conditions in offering,” he said.
“These are bouncy and turning tracks that are totally different to the ones which our players have are accustomed to. Our batsmen have found it tough to play on these tracks. While preparing back home, we were used to play on flat tracks and Chennai tracks are totally different and weather is also not helping. The more we will play on these tracks, more will be the learning,” he said.
Long Season Ahead
Parvez said that there is long season ahead for J&K with five matches still to be played in Vijay Hazare trophy, followed by Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy matches.
“The start to the season has not gone the way we expected, but still there is long way to go. During these four games we have noticed our strengths and weaknesses and it is definitely going to help us in the matches ahead. We will try our best to bounce back in the remaining five matches and give something to cheer for our fans back home,” he said.
My Performances Are Important For Team
It is a known fact that J&K cricket has done well whenever its star player Parvez Rasool has performed good and whenever he has failed, the results have not gone in favour of the team. In the four matches played so far, as a batsman Parvez has scored only 22 runs. And in bowling, although he has not picked many wickets, yet he has been miserly economical.
“Definitely everyone looks at me to deliver on the given day. I am the most experienced player in the side and it is imperative that I need to give my best. So far in these four matches are concerned, I acknowledge that I have not been able to perform well enough. However, in the interest of the team, I always try to give my level best. In batting, I have not been to deliver as people would expect me to do, but in bowling I have been reasonable. And going forward, I want my performances to be even better,” he said.
On Irfan Pathan
Parvez Rasool while defending J&K’s mentor-cum-player Irfan Pathan, revealed that the former star cricketer of team India has left many lucrative offers to help develop cricket in J&K.
“It is an irony that a person like Irfan who has left big offers and joined J&K team only to develop its cricketing talent, is facing undue criticism. Had Irfan not been playing domestic cricket, he would have definitely been working as a commentator for Star Sports and earning big bucks this time. However, he chose to work for the development of J&K cricket and has been looking after it from last more than four months,” Parvez said.
“Irfan’s individual performance in bowling has been satisfactory as he has taken five wickets in four matches, but he has struggled as a batsman like all other batsmen in the team. However, looking at his credentials and stature, it is too naïve to raise questions on him. He could have stayed only as mentor-cum-player and relaxed, but he chose to conduct coaching camps at ground level,” he added.