'I'm getting there' - Irfan Pathan
In the following interview, which appeared in May issue of Wisden Asia Cricket, Irfan Pathan talks about his experiences in his brief international career so far
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Not so soon, to tell you honestly. I knew that next year or next season, my time would come. To play for Baroda, that was my dream when I was young. I didn't think too much, but I knew that if I did well in the season ahead, I would definitely play for India. But not so fast.
I was sleeping at home. Next day I had a Ranji Trophy match. The team was declared around 1.30am. I waited till around 12, then hit the bed. My mother woke me up; she was delighted. Some of my friends came and we had a little party. I offered special prayers. Went to the mosque, talked to my family and friends, then went to play the Ranji match. I was taking it one thing at a time, so I concentrated hard on that match.
I was bowling too many wides in one-day matches in Australia. I was getting swing, because essentially I am a swing bowler, but there were too many wides. I worked on that because in crucial matches it's very important not to bowl no-balls and wides. I would bowl a one-stump line for 30-45 minutes.
The first time I took the new ball I was 11 or 12, and even then I had natural swing. But I didn't really know how to swing the ball, what the criteria were. I was just running in and bowling, the ball was pitching on off and ending up on leg. I asked the senior players what was going on. So many senior players and coaches helped me out.
That's an area I worked on in Australia quite a lot, and I am working here as well. Wasim Akram helped me a lot in this area. I still have to work a lot on it, but I am confident I will get there with effort and time.
Actually, after bowling to them my confidence was going up because I was playing against them for the first time and I knew they are a tough side. I learned a lot. They always give you a chance to get them out because they play their shots freely. You have to remember that you have to bowl consistently well to them - bowl a good line with decent swing and try the odd variation.
That was actually because it was the last spell of the day. I had a feeling that if I got one ball in the right area, I definitely had a chance because I was getting some reverse swing as well. But I have to forget that and move ahead now.
Very big difference. You can get wickets or you can get away with a bad ball in U-19 and first-class cricket, but in international cricket you have to be very consistent. If you bowl a bad ball, you are going to get smacked for a boundary or a six.
Yes I did. But I had it in my mind that when I first came into the side it was as a first-change bowler. I know there are seniors in the team who are good, who have done very well for a long time for the country. It's just that they have a few injury problems, which is why I am bowling with the new ball. When you are playing for India, whatever the captain asks you to do, you have to be comfortable with that.
Yes. I try to do namaz five times, but it's not always possible. I do kaza. If you are struggling for time and miss namaz then you can come back and pray. That's kaza. I do that.