Jammu-Kashmir is one of the states in India where females find it tough to dream and make it large. Even the last cricketer who became famous from that state was Parvez Rasool.

A woman cricketer named Iqra Rasool has grabbed a lot of eyeballs as she is trying to beat the odds and play for the women’s Indian cricket team.

Iqra is just 17 years old and she has learned to bat by just watching and following Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. She has many obstacles standing in the way of her dream, so she is now relocated to West Bengal.

Despite the fact that she is just 17, Iqra Rasool has represented Jammu & Kashmir at the U-19 and U-23 level. Rasool has got the NOC certificate signed by J&K cricket association General Secretary Iqbal Ahmad Shah, which cleared Iqra to play for any state association affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to the latest IANS reports, Iqra said, “I want to play for India and that’s why when Aditya School of Sports contacted me I lapped up the opportunity. I was asked ‘kyun khel rahi ho’ (why are you playing). I was looked at differently as I slowly became popular and TV channels started covering me. My father told me to leave my state after I finish my 12th standard.”

Iqra, now a class XI student and three months ago in May that she came to West Bengal and joined Aditya School of Sports. Explaining the same, she said, “We came to know about her from television. We have our scouts everywhere and they brought her here. Jhulan Goswami took her trials and she was accompanied by her parents.”

Abdul Monayem, one of Iqra’s two coaches, said, “She has good pace and is very serious about her cricket. If she is guided properly, she can play for India. She has the talent and the will. I have loved my stint so far in Bengal.”

However, Iqra said, “I want to play for my nation and before that represent Bengal at the domestic level as the facilities here are great. It’s not the same in Jammu & Kashmir.”