Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has recalled the time when he was kicked out of the team following an injury. Irfan, who made his India debut in 2003, played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is for the country between 2003 and 2012. His career, however, was hampered by recurring knee injuries. While he played his last game for India in 2012, he continued to feature in domestic cricket until 2019, hoping to earn a recall some day. However, in January 2020, he decided to announce his retirement from all formats of the game.
While responding to a query on “recency bias”, Irfan criticised former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the chairman of selectors back then, for kicking him out of the team after an injury.
“I was part of the Indian team when Srikanth sir was the selector. I got injured and got kicked out and never played for India. No that’s the truth. And i have no qualms about it. I have huge respect for you. That time, the mindset was different,” Irfan Pathan, Commentator & Cricket Expert with IPL official TV Broadcaster, said on Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to World Cup.
Irfan explained how selectors back then often neglected a player’s match-winning performances in the past after just one bad tour or an injury.
The 39-year-old also suggested that the selectors shouldn’t judge a player after just one good season in the IPL.
“But come to 2020s, Wriddhiman Saha was literally out of the team for more than a year due to injury. What happened when he got fit? He got picked and was part of the XI. And one year is a long time. But because Indian team thought was Indian team has done for him in the past before getting injured, we don’t want to undervalue that. We want to value that. So when someone is sitting in the selection committee, you should not forget what the guy has done for the Indian team before the IPL. And its not too far away I am talking about. Just because some guys are playing well in IPL, you think we should pick them. But don’t forget the guys (who have done well in the past),” he added.
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