Irfan Pathan was 19-years-old when he played his first Test. Two overs later in his debut match, the teenager picked his maiden wicket. Twenty Tests later, he scripted history when he dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf in successive deliveries in Karachi. Eight matches later, his Test career was over.
In 2005, he reaped 35 wickets in eight Tests. Next year, he picked 17 wickets from seven games. He played four more games after that.
'Trying to be an all-rounder,' was one of the theories of Pathan’s downfall as a strike bowler. However, he denies it.
"I don’t regret trying to do both," said Pathan during a media interaction in the city.
"I’ve always batted and bowled in junior cricket and for Baroda. It’s just that my bowling shone well when I stepped onto international cricket. When people say that I could’ve done better, they should remember that I’ve taken 300 international wickets."
Periodic injuries deprived Pathan of more success. "Last year, I wanted my body to go without any trouble throughout the season. And, it went."
He has the highest wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which ended in January. But, the eight overs he bowled in the Indian Premier League didn’t fetch him a wicket. He is, however, confident of making a comeback.
"This season, I’ve already started power training which involves jumping and using your body. So, that should help. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again," said a hopeful Pathan.
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