Parvez Rasool

Off-spinning allrounder Parvez Rasool will always be a man of firsts, and it all began not just because Rasool comes from India's politically-troubled Kashmir valley.

Rasool was a standout performer for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy, ending the season as its top scorer and highest wicket-taker. In his seven Ranji matches, Rasool scored 594 runs at 54 with two centuries, and took 33 wickets at 18.09 to finish as the third-highest wicket-taker among spinners in the tournament.

A classical offspinner given to loop and drift, and the recipient of a healthy dose of encouragement from J&K coach Bishen Bedi, Rasool's extraordinary Ranji season placed him firmly on the national selectors' radar and opened many doors. He was picked for the India A side to play England in a one-day practice match in Delhi, and made a mark when he picked up 7 for 45 for the Board President's XI against the visiting Australians in their tour-opener in Chennai in February 2013. He was then signed on by the Pune Warriors IPL franchise and was also named in the India probables for the Champions Trophy.

Rasool belongs to a family of cricketers from the town of Bij Behara in the southern Kashmir valley district of Anantnag, and has represented the state right from the Under-14s level. His elder brother Asif had played two T20s for J&K in 2009, and his father opened the batting for Anantnag.

When Rasool was selected for that India A side which played England in a warm-up, he became the first cricketer from J&K to be selected in an Indian team to play an international side, and the fourth - behind Abid Nabi, Surendra Singh and Abdul Qayoom - to be picked in a national-level squad. When he signed with Pune Warriors, he was the first player from J&K to receive an IPL contract. In July 2013, he was rewarded with his first national call-up, for the ODI tour of Zimbabwe. He didn't get a game but a year later he made it back to the one-day squad for the short tour of Bangladesh, and debuted.
Sharda Ugra