T20 World Cup 2024: "You should never forget..." - Irfan Pathan's colossal 'IPL' warning to selectors ahead of squad announcement
Published - 29 Apr 2024, 06:40 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:10 AM
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan shared a massive suggestion for the BCCI selectors ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement. He said that before picking the team, selectors should look for players' previous contributions for India and not just the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 reportedly is all set to be announced on 1st May. The tournament will be played in the United States of America (USA) and the Caribbean in the month of June, just after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 concludes.
There's no doubt that BCCI selectors will keep note of IPL performances before picking the players. There have been many staggering performances in the ongoing league as many Indian batters have bowlers have made their case strong for the tournament.
Apart from this, some proven performances have struggled to get going as well. With the selection just around the corner, there has been no clarity on who will be picked and who will be dropped as selectors have been keenly watching the performances in the IPL.
Irfan Pathan urged selectors to not pick IPL performers over players who have proved their worth for the team. He pointed out the difference between league cricket and international cricket. Speaking on Star Sports, he explained:
“When you’re in a selection committee, you shouldn’t forget a player’s previous contributions for India, even before the IPL. You should never forget that, and I’m not referring to events from too far back. This should always be taken into consideration. Just because some players are performing well in the IPL, it doesn’t mean they should automatically be selected.
"In the IPL, there are always one or two uncapped bowlers who can be easily smacked due to small grounds and flat pitches. However, international cricket is a different beast altogether. You’ll have five bowlers, each with a significant number of matches under their belt before entering the World Cup, bringing in tons of experience."
Remember their achievements for the Indian team before the IPL as well - Irfan Pathan on India team selection
Irfan Pathan further claimed that batters will be up against 5 quality bowlers in international cricket and stressed that selectors should not overlook the performances of the players for India in the past. He added:
"You’ll be up against top-quality bowlers like Mitchell Starc. While Starc’s performance in the IPL may differ, you’ll still be facing top-quality bowlers. For instance, from Sri Lanka, you might face someone like Pathirana.
"But you’ll also have the other four bowlers, who are top-quality performers. So, don’t overlook their contributions. While considering recent performances is important, remember their achievements for the Indian team before the IPL as well.”
As per the various reports, it is learned that BCCI is unlikely to make any surprise calls in the team. Rohit Sharma will be captaining the team whereas Rishabh Pant or Hardik Pandya are likely to be his deputy for the tournament.
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Ankitjit is an author at Cricketaddictor. He has been working with the organization since April 2023...
