ANANTNAG — District Cricket Association (DCA) Anantnag on Wednesday jumped in to defend Jammu and Kashmir’s cricket star, Parvez Rasool who was accused by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) of stealing the pitch roller.
The tussle between JKCA and the cricket star hit the headlines recently after a member of the BCCI appointed sub-committee for JKCA, in an email, accused Rasool of stealing the roller and asked him to return the same or face police action.
Rasool, however, denied being in possession of any roller belonging to JKCA and in his reply requested its members to keep him away from all this.
The Hindu quoted Rasool as saying that roller was not a tennis ball to be stolen in a pocket. Rasool also told the newspaper that he wondered as to how they treat their cricket stars.
President, District Cricket Association (DCA) Anantnag, Farooq Amin, on Tuesday held a presser over the issue and came out in open defence of Parvez Rasool.
“I was very surprised to read about the allegations of roller stealing against an international cricketer, Parvez Rasool, in national paper. Parvez is an asset who has brought laurels to J and K but accusing him of stealing an equipment by a cricket body is very disgusting,” DCA president said.
DCA is affiliated to JKCA since last year and is tasked with promoting cricket in the district.
Farooq said that JKCA should have contacted District Cricket Association for the roller.
“They should not have dragged Parvez into the controversy but contacted us with regard to the roller. As soon as I came to know about it I immediately inquired from other office bearers and the roller was found in one of the grounds in a non-working condition,” DCA president told reporters.
“Had JKCA contacted DCA, they would have sent them one more roller along with the one they claimed to have been stolen,” he said, mocking at JKCA’s claims.
“Dragging an international cricketer who has been guiding the young cricketers of the district into every controversy is highly ironical,” DCA Anantnag president said.
Asked about barring JKCA registered cricketers from playing local tournaments, Farooq said that amounts to doing disservice to the game of cricket.
“After Srinagar, only district Anantnag has turf wicket in Bijbehara ground. But the day Bijbehara premier league started, JKCA asked its registered players not to play local tournaments. Playing turf cricket would help the cricketers perform better during national level high profile tournaments but when you ban them from playing it, you are doing disservice to the game,” Farooq said.
He added that JK cricket team defeated many states in high profile tournaments only after being guided by Rasool.
Farooq asked the JKCA officials to stop doing politics on cricket.
“JKCA should focus on giving better facilities to the cricketers but not play politics. If they cannot encourage the cricketers, they must not discourage them.” Farooq told reporters.
He also accused the BCCI appointed sub-committee for JKCA of not replying to his plea for appointment.
“I have written to JKCA officials seeking their appointment with the intention to discuss cricket but they are yet to respond to my pleas. They have only called few individuals for meeting but being president of the district body my request for appointment did not get any response so far,” Farooq said.
Parvez Rasool, hailing from Bijbehara town of southern region has the distinction of having played for team India in 2014. He also represents Jammu and Kashmir team for last several years.
(Syndicated feed from Kashmir Times)