Blaming Greg Chappell Was Just A Cover-up - Irfan Pathan

On Saturday, the all-rounder Irfan Pathan called curtains on his international career from all formats of the game. Following his retirement, the flamboyant cricketer revealed his experiences and the poor treatment he received from the team management during his times. He also added that blaming Greg Chappell was just a cover-up.

He was once touted as the natural heir to Kapil Dev’s throne. Injuries and mismanagement stopped his career mid-way, and he never could fulfil his immense potential. Despite this, Irfan retired as one of the greatest match-winners for the team with both the ball and the bat. He was the man of the match in the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and featured in 120 ODIs, 29 Tests and 24 T20Is for India in a career that spanned over 15 years.

I was still getting the swing – Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan, aged 35, announced his retirement, saying “most players start their India career at 27-28, but I ended up playing my last game at that stage”. Those words clearly say that the all-rounder is hurt deeply with the ignorance by the Indian Cricket Board. He stated that blaming Greg Chappell is just a cover-up and revealed that he never lost his swing.

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”All these discussions people talking about Greg Chappell they are just covering up. All the aura they made that Irfan lost his swing, people need to understand, that you are not going to get the same kind of swing that you get in 10 overs. I was still getting the swing,” Pathan told PTI.

“People talk about my performance, but my job was different. I was given job to contain because I was bowling first change. I had been told this is your job. I remember getting dropped after winning the game in Sri Lanka in 2008, who gets dropped after winning the game for the country without any reason?” he questioned.

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Irfan 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). The numbers certainly tell you how brilliant he was for India during his times.