<p>The day Parveez Rasool has been eagerly waiting for arrived on Thursday as he became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play in the cash-rich T20 tournament, the Indian Premier League.<br /><br />After spending time on the sidelines for 12 matches, the 24-year-old batting all-rounder, finally found a place in the playing XI of the Pune Warriors for their match against Kolkata Knight Riders here.</p>.<p>Rasool replaced leg-spinner Rahul Sharma to earn his maiden IPL cap.<br /><br />The unassuming player from the valley shot to limelight with a seven-wicket haul against visiting Austrlians while playing for the Board President’s XI earlier this year.<br /><br />Rasool, a day ahead of his 24th birthday, spun a web around the Aussies with impressive figures of seven for 45 for the Board President’s XI on a pitch that offered the slow bowlers assistance.</p>.<p>A month before that, the all-rounder was included in the 14-member India ‘A’ squad to play in a warm-up one-day match against England in Delhi.<br /><br />The call-ups were rewards for his strong showing with both bat and ball in J&K’s otherwise disappointing run in the last Ranji Trophy season.<br /><br />He finished on top of both batting and bowling charts for the team with 594 runs, including two centuries, and 33 wickets.<br /><br />With just two wins and 10 defeats, his IPL franchise, Pune would hope that Rasool’s inclusion would bring a change in their fourtunes.</p>
<p>The day Parveez Rasool has been eagerly waiting for arrived on Thursday as he became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play in the cash-rich T20 tournament, the Indian Premier League.<br /><br />After spending time on the sidelines for 12 matches, the 24-year-old batting all-rounder, finally found a place in the playing XI of the Pune Warriors for their match against Kolkata Knight Riders here.</p>.<p>Rasool replaced leg-spinner Rahul Sharma to earn his maiden IPL cap.<br /><br />The unassuming player from the valley shot to limelight with a seven-wicket haul against visiting Austrlians while playing for the Board President’s XI earlier this year.<br /><br />Rasool, a day ahead of his 24th birthday, spun a web around the Aussies with impressive figures of seven for 45 for the Board President’s XI on a pitch that offered the slow bowlers assistance.</p>.<p>A month before that, the all-rounder was included in the 14-member India ‘A’ squad to play in a warm-up one-day match against England in Delhi.<br /><br />The call-ups were rewards for his strong showing with both bat and ball in J&K’s otherwise disappointing run in the last Ranji Trophy season.<br /><br />He finished on top of both batting and bowling charts for the team with 594 runs, including two centuries, and 33 wickets.<br /><br />With just two wins and 10 defeats, his IPL franchise, Pune would hope that Rasool’s inclusion would bring a change in their fourtunes.</p>