Pathan puzzled, unsure of future

NEWDELHI: Once touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Irfan Pathan is currently lost and quite unsure about his future. Just two matches into the 2017-18 Ranji season, the left-arm pacer was left humiliated after he was not just stripped of his captaincy but also dropped from the Baroda team.

“I am puzzled! This is happening for the last three years. I am trying to find an answer within myself without asking anyone. I am not the kind of guy who will run around to ask what’s wrong,” Pathan, 33, told Hindustan Times.

“(If my) performance is not there, no issues. But I just scored 80 runs batting at No.6, got wickets. The ball is coming out really well, I am fit, then why drop me?”

Pathan, who has played 29 Tests, 120 ODIS and 24 T20s for India, scored 80 and 4 against Madhya Pradesh and 0 and 4 against Andhra. He also took two wickets in total in the two games.

“They (Baroda Cricket Association) even had a big press conference and said I am the team’s mentor and captain for the season and that I will help develop the players. Things can’t change so suddenly after just two games, can it? This can’t be a cricketing issue,” alleged Pathan.

According to reports, there was disagreement between Pathan and Baroda selectors over the selection of a player ahead of the ongoing game. It has been five years since Pathan last played for India. He said that if he doesn’t get chances at domestic level, he won’t be able to show his abilities.