Hyderabad: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who announced his retirement from cricket in January, has said that he is ready to work hard and put his blood, sweat and tear if the selectors communicate their messages in a better way.
Many cricketers from Imran Khan to Kevin Pietersen have come out of retirement to represent their country once again. Speaking on the same line, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has also expressed his desire to come out of his retirement to play for his country once again.
The all-rounder from Baroda called time on his 16-year career in January earlier this year. Pathan did exceedingly well soon after he bursts on to the scene with outrageous control on his swing. He was also a handy batsman down the order scoring some crucial runs for his side. However, he had a fallout soon after India’s World Cup victory in 2011 and went out of the reckoning.
Since then, Irfan Pathan has been a stalwart in domestic cricket and took up a job with Jammu & Kashmir to improve cricket in the state. Recently, during a chat with Suresh Raina in an Instagram Live, Pathan said he is ready to give his heart and soul if the selectors give him a year to prepare with the assurance that they will consider him again.
“The scenario is other countries are different. Michel Hussey made a debut at the age of 29 and he later went on to be called Mr. Cricket but in India you are old at 30. I was made old at 30, the selectors made me old. The players should be given chance till he is fit. Communication is very important. If they come and tell me ‘Irfan you have retired but you prepare for one year and you will be available for India selection’ then I will leave everything, give my heart and soul, and will only do hard work. But who will do the communication?” said Irfan Pathan.
“Tell me if they say ‘Suresh Raina you have six months and there is a World Cup, we will consider you provided you perform well’ so won’t you give your all?” Irfan asked, to which Raina replied: “Yes, absolutely.”
Suresh Raina, who last played for India in 2018, echoed Pathan’s sentiments and said that they had time on their hands. “We are still young and fit but most importantly we have that passion. We are fighters, if we get a chance then we will surely perform. I’ve seen a lot of players trying different things, even changing associations but they are not getting supporting,” he said.
Pathan’s Test career ended in 2008. In the 29 Tests he played, Irfan picked up 100 wickets at an average of 32. He was celebrated for his hat-trick in Pakistan in 2006, which he took in the first over of a Test match.
Irfan also scored 1105 runs in 29 Tests at an average of 31.57 with one century to his name. His limited-overs record was a lot better. In 120 ODIs, he picked up 173 wickets and scored 1544 runs. In 24 T20Is he picked up 28 wickets.
