Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Make a Kashmiri feel like an Indian' that was published in Newsband

Make a Kashmiri feel like an Indian

The non-selection of Kashmiri off-spinner and lower middle-order batsman Parvez Rasool for India’s last One Day International cricket match against Zimbabwe has angered many Indian cricket lovers. Had Rasool been selected for this match, he would certainly have brought cheer to a State that has lived under the constant shadow of violence for more than two decades. Rasool’s selection to the playing XI would have provided a big inspirational boost to cricket in J & K, encouraging other youngsters to take to the game quickly and earnestly.

A Kashmiri playing cricket for India would have made every Kashmiri feel like an Indian. Parvez has talent and he will surely be included in the playing eleven when the time comes.

Rasool was selected in the 15 member squad by his talent and performance in the domestic level. Rasool should have been given a chance to play in 4^th and 5^th one day against Zimbabwe, because the series had been decided and it was time to test the bench strength. J and K cricket team should be given incentives to play in all other states so as to mix up with different culture and come out of the shell which can work to some extent enhance about the concept about national spirit and solidarity as a nation. Selecting Rasool to play the last one dayer would have certainly been a confidence-building and alienation-reducing measure, however small.

For a talented player like Rasool, it is certainly not the end of the road. This setback, if one may say so, should strengthen his resolve to do even better when opportunities come his way.

It’s not a great achievement to have beaten Zimbabwe, who are minnows of the cricketing world, a side far far depleted in its potential to really put up a challenge against the current Goliath of world cricket. Zimbabwe is just like some Ranji Trophy team and not a world cricketing power in the real sense of it. This could have been the right platform to young, budding cricketers like Parvez Rasool to showcase their skills. It’s not like India playing the Aussies or the Brits that you need to use your full fire power of the team. Series like these are the ones, which a wise cricketing management would have used to test its upcoming talents. Rasool with a good track record with his recent Ranji performances, undoubtedly deserved a chance to be in the playing eleven at least for the last One-Dayer when India had already decimated the hosts.

Rasool could have been selected purely on cricketing reasons alone and not to assuage the feelings in the Valley. Cricket is passion for all the people in subcontinent and same applies to Kashmiris. Surely the younger generation wanted to see him playing for India so that they have a role model to follow and Parvez would have been the first to do so from valley.

Kashmiris are a confused lot. They want to be true Indians but a complex mix of politics and history are not letting them do that. Hence, to free them from such shackles many such Rasools are required who not only keep India's head high at international level but also provide much needed sense of pride to a common Kashmiri.

And lastly, one should not only try to erase the scars of Kashmiri Muslims but also heal the wounds of Kashmiri Pundits.