Parvez Rasool, the domestic veteran from Jammi and Kashmir, has announced his retirement from professional cricket on Monday (October 20). The 36-year-old, who was the first player from his state to represent India, ends his career with the rare double of 5000-plus First-class runs and 350-plus wickets.
“Yes, I've retired from cricket. Obviously, playing for India was the proudest moment of my life," said Rasool in a chat with TOI.
"Coming from J&K, which wasn't known much for cricket, I went on to win the Lala Amarnath Trophy for the best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy on two occasions (in 2013-14 and 2017-18), and became the first from my region to play for India and in the IPL. I feel nice to have contributed to the game."
Rasool's moment of reckoning came in the 2013-14 domestic season where he was the top-scorer and highest wicket-taker for Jammu and Kashmir in an otherwise forgettable year for the state in First-class cricket. Rasool was rewarded for his stupendous consistency with a call-up to the Indian senior men's team.
On India's tour of Bangladesh in 2014, Rasool made his international debut in the ODI series, playing just the one match where he returned figures of 2-60. It was the first instance of a Jammu and Kashmir cricketer representing India in international cricket. Rasool only played one more game in national colours, a T20I against England in 2017, after which he never got a game for the country.
In domestic cricket, however, Rasool continued to be a hugely influential figure for his state as he made telling contributions with both bat and ball to hold J&K afloat. The all-rounder had also gotten an IPL contract in 2013-14 with Pune Warriors India, making him the first player from his state to get a contract in the league.
Rasool's off spin was of the classical category, relying more on loop, guile and drift to bamboozle the batters. He also had strong credentials with the bat and often dug in when his team was in crisis to bail the side out of choppy waters. With his playing days done, Rasool now hopes to focus on coaching.