The Eid of 2012 will always be special for the young Rasarana Parbin. It was August 20 and she received the most delightful news of her life on that day. Rasanara had been included in the 14-member Indian team for the Women’s T20 World Cup. But it was not just a pleasant piece of surprise for her, it was a huge day for women’s cricket in Odisha too.
Rasanara had joined an elite club of two women from Odisha to represent India as internationals, along with Madhuri Mehta. Both came from the same club, from the same dustbowls of western Odisha district Balangir, which is known more for poverty and backwardness; and certainly not cricket, let alone women playing the game.
She became an instant media star, but Rasanara kept her feet on the ground and eyes focused on the T20 World Cup. By claiming two wickets each in matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka at an impressive economy rate of 4.75 in the World Cup, she ensured that a new cricketing sensation of the state is born.
Only time will tell if Rasanara, a right-arm off-break bowler, modest batsman and sharp gully fielder, becomes a successful international cricketer or fades into oblivion, but she sure is the new face of small-town girls who have taken to cricket as a career option.
Gandhi Stadium in Balangir town, the home ground of Rsanara, has emerged as a leading nursery for woman cricketers, grooming two internationals and around 10 national level players so far. The contribution of the stadium assumes added importance considering the fact that it is yet to have the basic infrastructure and support staff.
For Rasanara, it all started when Arun Kumar Naik, a passionate former club-level cricketer, was given the responsibility to form Balangir team for the inter-district women cricket tournament
“After a lot of persuasion, I could rope in around 30 school and college girls for a coaching camp, which commenced on August 27, 2006. The first year was devoted to fitness work. But the girls were obedient and learnt the skills and techniques in a systematic manner,’’ recalls Naik, a self-made coach.
Opening batsman Madhuri was first from the little-known academy to make her international debut earlier this year against West Indies. Though she was not considered for the T20 World Cup, the loss was compensated by the inclusion of Rasanara.
Among other girls of the academy, opening bat Sarita Meher, chinaman bowler Rajeswari Nag, middle-order bat Swagatika Mishra and medium-pacer Swati Rani Patnaik are reckoned as future prospects. “In fact, Sarita should have been the first women international cricketer from Odisha,’’ opines Naik. Coach Naik describes Rasanara as a bundle of energy and disciplined cricketer with a receptive mind. “Before trying her hand in cricket, she played badminton and went on to finish runner-up in State Women’s Sports Festival. She being quick learner, switching from badminton to cricket did not create any problem for her,’’ reveals Naik.
But how good a spin bowler Rasanara is? “Her speciality is that she has a natural loop, which helps her deceive batsmen in the air. Because of the loop the ball lands almost vertically and puts the batsman in double mind. Besides, she flights the ball well, gets good turn and nip,’’ says coach. It was her strike rate that compelled the selectors to pick Rasanara. She took more wickets than the number of runs she conceded several times. With 20 scalps, she was the highest wicket-taker in the domestic T-20 tournament of the country.
Petite and articulate, Rasanara possesses all the qualities to become a woman cricket star.