The Hindu : Sport : Pathan to return home

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 26, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Pathan to return home

Special Correspondent

PHOTO: AP

DOWN...AND OUT! Irfan Pathan's indifferent form has cost him his place in the Indian team.

Advertisement

Durban: All-rounder Irfan Pathan will return from South Africa to take part in domestic cricket. The selectors and the team-management are keen on the paceman rediscovering his bowling form.

Making the announcement to the media, here, on Monday, India captain Rahul Dravid said, "He figures in our future plans, including the World Cup. It is in Irfan's interest that he has match practice."

Pathan will now play the Ranji Trophy Super league game for Baroda against Uttar Pradesh, beginning on January 2. This is the first time, in the Dravid-Chappell era at least, that a cricketer is being sent back home for non-fitness reasons.

The 22-year-old cricketer is not a part of the 12 for the second Test. And with Munaf Patel regaining his fitness, the team, as Dravid pointed out, had cover in the pace bowling department. It is obvious that Pathan was not in the team's plans for the third Test either.

"We explained it to Irfan, and he also felt this was the right option for him. This has happened in the past to some good bowlers, even Steve Harmison," said Dravid.

The Indian captain added that the team would not be seeking a replacement.

Slump

The slump in Pathan's bowling form - the drop in pace and lack of control - has been worrying the team-management. Pathan has applied himself with the bat on the tour, but the team requires him as a bowler first.

Said the chairman of the national selection panel, Dilip Vengsarkar — "As you can see, he is bowling poorly, his confidence seems to be down. Instead of doing little here, he can at least take part in the Ranji Trophy. There is a chance that he could bowl better and gain in self-belief. There is nothing like match practice."

Vengsarkar revealed that the decision to send Pathan home was unanimous. "There was an agreement that this was the best way out for him. The selection for the World Cup will be tight. We want him to be bowling better. I have always maintained that names do not count, only performances do."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport