Irfan Pathan To Make Sensational Comeback, Signs With Kandy Tuskers For Lanka Premier League
Published - 01 Nov 2020, 09:21 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:36 AM
Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan is all set to make a sensational return to the cricket field after signing up a contract to play in the forthcoming edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The former India star will be plying his trade for the Kandy Tuskers franchise.
Irfan Pathan joins a Tuskers roster that includes Chris Gayle, Liam Plunkett, Wahab Riaz and Kusal Perera. He had retired from all forms of the game in January this year and is thus eligible to play in overseas T20 leagues. The BCCI does not allow its active players to play in T20 leagues outside the country.
Earlier this year in February, the 36-year old had turned out for the India Legends side in a charity tournament. It is his last T20 appearance till now. At present, he is in the UAE as a part of the commentary panel.
“I am definitely looking forward to this,” Irfan Pathan told ESPNcricinfo. “Yes, I had retired from T20 cricket, but I can play around the world and hopefully I will be able to have fun with my game as well, which I didn’t have for the last two years. I think I can still play some, but I will start slowly and see how this goes, and then I will take it forward.”
Irfan Pathan will not be the only Indian player in the LPL. Apart from him, Manpreet Gony will also play in the competition. He has been picked up by the Colombo Kings franchise. Manvinder Bisla was also picked up by the Colombo-based franchise but recently withdrew from the tournament. The LPL is scheduled to begin on November 21 and will run till December 13.
Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan represented India in 29 Tests and picked up 100 wickets, with his best figures being 7/59. In ODIs, he picked up 173 wickets from 120 matches. His best figures are 5/27. In T20Is, he bagged 28 wickets from 24 matches.
