Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has accused Indian cricketer Parvez Rasool of stealing the pitch roller. The JKCA has already issued a notice to the all-rounder asking for the machine to be returned. The cricketer has responded to the grave allegations by the state cricket body, calling them 'unfortunate'. The JKCA has also asked the player to return the machine, a failure to do so could see the cricket body taking the help of police. According to Indian Express, replying to the allegations, Rasool said: “Is this the way to treat an international cricketer who has given life and soul to J&K cricket?”. Brigadier (retd) Anil Gupta, a BJP spokesperson, is said to have sent an e-mail to JKCA asking, “Do we have any proof to nail him down.” Rasool is said to have been marked in the mail too alongside other administrators. Suggesting that the matter is being 'hyped up', Gupta clarified that the mail was sent to all district associations and since Rasool's name was mentioned for his district (Anantnag), he was also sent the mail.
“We have not only written to Parvez Rasool but to all district associations and whosoever has taken JKCA machinery from Srinagar. Machinery was distributed at district associations without any vouchers. In many districts where we don’t have a mailing address, the letter was sent to the concerned person whose name was registered with us. He (Rasool) took offence to why the mail was written to him,” Gupta told The Indian Express. As per Gupta, the police threat was given in the second e-mail as “some of the districts feel that they can get away with anything and nothing will happen to them. ”In his reply to the email, Rasool wrote on July 26: “This is to inform you that I Parvez Rasool first international cricketer have represented my country and also played in IPL, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar trophy, India A, Board president XI, Irani Trophy, captained the J&K Ranji team from last 6 years and only cricketer from J&K who got best all-rounder award from BCCI 2 times. Today I got a letter stating that I have taken roller from JKCA which is really unfortunate… Let me clarify that I haven’t taken any roller or machine from JKCA. I am a player who is playing cricket. I just want to ask is this the way to treat international cricketer who has given life and soul to J&K cricket. You have an affiliated body in all districts; you should ask them for any JKCA equipment if present in their districts rather than me.” A veteran in Jammu & Kashmir Cricket, Parvez Rasool is one of the most popular cricketers in the region. Having represented India in 1 ODI ad 1 T20I, he was also part of IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad.
