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PACESETTER
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Irfan Pathan talks to S. DINAKAR about cricket, his life and his days at the MRF Pace Foundation
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THE AFTERNOON calm in the serene, green surroundings is shattered by the sound of a suburban train flashing past. In the middle of a conversation, Irfan Pathan turns to catch a fleeting glimpse of the speeding object and then smiles.
He has been witness to the sight on numerous occasions at the MRF Pace Foundation - the railway track is only yards away from its premises. First as a lean, raw aspirant from Baroda with dreams in his eyes and fire in his veins, and now, as a celebrated young paceman in the Indian attack.
A lot has changed between `then' and `now' but the journey continues for Pathan. And each time he looks at the train, he is reminded of the miles still left to be travelled. In his ride, though, there are no stops.
"Learning never ends. Never. If you think you have learnt a lot or achieved a lot, there's a full stop to your life," he says.
This was precisely why he was sweating it out under the Chennai sun at the Pace Foundation, only days after the triumphant tour of Pakistan where he made a distinct impression as a vibrant left-arm pace bowler, with an amalgam of heart, skill and strength.
"Cricket is not a ladoo. It is a tough game. There will be ups and downs," he says even as he goes through a stretching routine. Wise words indeed from someone just out of his teens.
There is a certain buzz about the MRF Pace Foundation, located inside the Madras Christian College School, when the practice sessions are on, as young pacemen compete with one another while adding to their craft.
If Australian legend Dennis Lillee is around to guide the boys, he would invariably shout words of encouragement or displeasure, depending on the delivery, the Head Coach at the foundation T.A. Sekhar would, in a quieter way, chip in with his inputs, and the smell of pace bowling would be wafting through the air.
"There are bowlers coming from all over the world, like England, Australia and Sri Lanka, apart from the Indian boys. The pitches are bouncy. You tend to bowl more. Then there is Dennis shouting, `You are bowling well mate! Beauty, isn't it!' He's a legend. When he says such things, it builds your confidence. In the same ground, you have nets, gym and a swimming pool as well. You bowl at nets, then you can go to the gym, and then if you want to relax, there is the swimming pool. It is a very good combination. I enjoy it here," says Pathan, who loves the ambience at the foundation.
It was in the 2000-2001 season that Pathan, on the brink of Ranji selection for Baroda, first visited the MRF Pace Foundation. He was taking a huge step forward in his cricketing quest. "It has been a lovely experience for me at the foundation. I remember I stayed here for four months the first time. I was very thin. When I went back, I was totally different. How to work on your fitness, how to avoid injuries, I learnt. It built up my confidence."
Sekhar recalls being impressed with a 16-year-old boy, who was sent to the foundation by former India stumper Kiran More. "I could see that this boy had the hunger to play, which is rare in many of the Indian boys. He could pick up things that Dennis told him fast. He was moving the ball into the right-hander. That was his biggest asset from day one. We knew this boy was going to play for India one day."
Pathan adds, "Dennis taught me a lot about action. He gives the youngsters a lot of confidence. Shekar sir also works hard. He is always there during the training sessions. They taught me about the use of the non-bowling arm. It makes a lot of difference."
And Lillee's priceless words of advice - "Work hard and remember your basics" - have stayed with Pathan.
Pathan now has a lovely side-on release, but in the beginning, he had a tendency to be past side-on, which as Sekhar reveals, could have resulted in groin or back injuries. "Dennis carried out this technical correction," recalls Sekhar.
The left-arm paceman was also put on a specific programme to build his muscle strength. "We focussed on his shoulders, legs and core stability. Though he was thin and wiry, we could make out that he could fill out very fast," says Sekhar.
Besides working on his bowling and fitness, Pathan imbibed a lot about camaraderie during his long stays at the MRF Guest House. "I learnt how to live here. Chennai is nearly 2,000 km away from my home in Vadodra. You learn how to share a room. In the MRF, I first shared a room with three guys. We came to live together, get to know each other. During tours you tend to miss those close to you. I never felt homesick during tours because of the time spent at the MRF Pace Foundation. There I have learnt a lot about cricket as well as life."
He says his successes with the Indian team in Australia and Pakistan have not changed him one bit. "I am the same with the other boys. They are the same with me."
Pathan has indeed been a model student at the foundation. "Right from day one, he has been a well behaved boy showing a keen interest to learn. He is a jewel," says Sekhar.
The former Test cricketer speaks in glowing terms about Pathan. "He swings the ball at a good pace and can bowl the odd quick delivery. You cannot take him for granted. At will, I do not think many bowlers in India can bring the ball into the right-hander, take the ball away from the right-hander, straighten it or bowl a good yorker. He can bowl reverse swing brilliantly."
Sekhar believes Pathan has it in him to be a couple of yards quicker in the days to come. "Pace bowling is all about confidence. If a paceman is among the wickets regularly, his action is going to get refined and his pattern of movement is going to get better and better. He is going to become quicker. Maybe by a couple of yards or maybe by a few kilometres more." Asked to compare Zaheer Khan, another Pace Foundation product with Pathan, Sekhar says, "They are different types of bowlers. Zaheer hits the deck, is basically a rhythm bowler, and his length is a bit short, at times. Irfan's length is such that he makes the batsman play forward. He gives himself a chance to swing the ball. Irfan is natural, Zaheer is self-made."
After his brief visit in the third week of May, Pathan wants to return to Chennai soon for another stint at the Pace Foundation. "Chennai is a nice place. Good people. A bit hot though. The people here go about their job. They do not bother you," he says.
For Irfan Pathan, the journey continues. And there are no full stops here.
* * *
STRENGTHS: Ability to swing the ball both ways; aggression; willingness to learn; stamina.
WEAKNESSES: Tends to try too much at times; is sometimes prone to concede too many runs.
OPPORTUNITIES: Can become India's strike bowler; potential to grow as an all-rounder.
THREATS: Injuries; the possibility of becoming jaded or burnt-out by too much cricket.
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