By Maitreyee Boruah
Bangalore, Oct 22 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's young cricketers, bitter about the detention and release of teammate Pervez Rasool here on suspicion of carrying explosives, have asked fellow Indians not to look at all Kashmiri Muslim youth as terrorists.
"It was a bitter episode," said Pervez, 21, who was briefly detained on Oct 17 by Bangalore police for questioning after a metal detector at Chinnaswamy stadium indicated presence of explosive material in his bag.
Pervez's bag has been sent to the forensic laboratory here to confirm whether it contained traces of explosive material. Bangalore police say their next step depends on the result. If the test results prove positive, Pervez could be questioned again.
"I want to say that all Kashmiri Muslim youth are not terrorists," Pervez, who scored 68 for his team in the C. K. Nayudu Trophy under-22 tournament Wednesday, told IANS.
"I am happy that I scored 68 runs and hope the team wins," added Pervez, a Ranji Trophy player for his state as well.
Pervez, whose cricketing idol is Sachin Tendulkar, and other team members want to forget the episode and play good cricket in the four-day match against Karnataka that ends Saturday. The team was all out for 268 on the first day of the match.
"We want to leave behind the past episode and concentrate on the match," said Abdul Qayoom, the coach of the team.
One day Pervez wants to wear the national cap and represent India in the international tournaments.
"Like all budding cricketers I too want to represent India in both One-Dayers and Test matches," said Rasool, who picked up cricketing skills from his father Ghulam Rasool Zargar in his hometown Brijbehara in Anantnag district.
"Cricket runs in my family. My father, my elder brother Asif (23), who have played in the Ranji Trophy, and younger brother Omar (17) are dedicated to the game," Pervez said.
On the current cricket scenario in the valley, Pervez said the state government encourages players and people are passionate about the game.
"A lot of things is happening in cricket in J&K. Soon the state will have star cricketers representing India in international tournaments. The government is encouraging budding players and provides necessary help to them," said Qayoom.
The young cricketers are in Bangalore for the first time but have not ventured out to see the city after the Pervez episode.
"Before coming here we were excited. But now, we are in no mood to go out and see Bangalore city. We know Bangalore is a great place, probably some other time we will see the city," said Ajaz Ahmed, the team's physio.