People start their career at 27-28, mine ended at that age: Irfan Pathan

"People start ir career at 27-28, mine ended when I was 27 and that is only regret," lamented Irfan Pathan after anuncing his retirement from all forms of cricket on Saturday. A 19-year-old Pathan made his India debut against Australia in 2003 and his last international appearance was during 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka. 

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Irfan Pathan's only regret

"People start ir career when y are 27-28 and n go on to play till 35. When I was 27, I had taken 301 international wickets, so that was it. That is only regret I have," said Pathan, w 35.
 

Pathan featured in 29 Tests (1105 runs and 100 wickets), 120 ODIs (1544 runs and 173 wickets) and 24 T20 Internationals (172 runs and 28 wickets)."I wish I would have played more and could have taken that tally to 500-600 wickets and scored more runs, but it did t happen," he said."A 27-year-old Irfan Pathan, at peak of his career, should have got more opportunities but it did t happen for whatever reasons. complaints but looking back, re is regret."

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Pathan on never representing India again

Pathan said in 2016 he got an idea that he would never get to play for India again."I knew after 2016 that I am t going to make a comeback when I was highest run-scorer in Mushtaq Ali trophy. I was best all-rounder and when I spoke to selectors, y were t very happy with my bowling."When you kw y are t happy (things don't happen). But after 2016-17, I kept pushing myself. Some league offers came my way and I am glad I took it. It was J and K cricket, I was playing and mentoring and I am glad I did this for m," said Pathan, who remains a mentor to Jammu and Kashmir side.

Looking back at his India career, Pathan fondly recalled moments when he delivered for team. Playing against Pakistan brought best out of him, wher it was hat-trick in 2006 Karachi Test, a match-winning spell in ODI series decider in Lahore or man-of--match performance at 2007 World T20 final in Johannesburg.

t just competing against arch-rivals, Pathan loved traveling to Pakistan, starting from his under-19 days when he picked up nine wickets, including a hat-trick, against Bangladesh in an Asian event in Lahore back in 2003. In his own words, it was moment when he realized he could play at highest level. One of his best performances came on tour of Pakistan in 2006 when Irfan became second Indian after Harbhajan Singh to take a Test hat-trick, removing Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf in first over of match held in Karachi.

However, India ended up losing that game in Karachi and that is why Pathan doesn't like to boast about it much."It was a memorable event but personally I don't speak about that hat-trick because we lost match. I speak proudly about matches in which I have even taken one wicket," said Pathan."When I took hat-trick, I didn't kw how big it was. That was in 2006, but people still talk today about it and y do because way ball swung, it doesn't swing like that every-day."

Besides Pakistan, 35-year-old loved challenge against Australia, a team against which he made his Test debut in 2003. His sensational spell of swing bowling in Sydney Test of 2004 is still fresh in memories of Indian cricket's keen followers. Due to injury and form issues, Pathan only ended up playing 29 Tests. Among his last three appearances was man of match performance in 2008 when he excelled both with bat and ball, helping India to a memorable win in Perth.  Baroda-born cricketer still doesn't kw exactly why he was sidelined from longest format shortly after that performance at WACA.

"People talk about Perth Test and if people kw whole stats, it was my second last Test (third last actually) and I was Man of Match and after that, I did t get opportunity. Even in my last game against South Africa, I was playing as an all-rounder, I was batting at number seven," he said."An all-rounder's job is t to take wickets but to score runs as well. And I remember, being t out in both innings. And after that, I did t get selected for Test matches and I got a hint re, that something is going on which is t in my control and it is fair eugh, it happens and you have to move on," he recollected. Pathan said he could have played more for India if he had support system that current players have.

"Like how workload is mand for Indian team. A lot of boys come, y don't play good, but y are taken back. (Wridhiman) Saha is a big example, he did t play for a year, but was given a chance," he said. "If re was a support system, it would have been better. If everything could have been mand properly, I could have been able to man my injuries better. I used to bowl and bat a lot and did t rest and n did t pay attention to injuries." 

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