Irfan Pathan Slams Former Selector for Dropping Him After Injury

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his disappointment over being dropped from the national team after an injury, criticizing the selection process of the time. Pathan, who played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is for India between 2003 and 2012, saw his career plagued by recurring knee injuries.

Despite his last international appearance in 2012, Pathan continued to play domestic cricket until 2019, hoping for a recall. However, in January 2020, he announced his retirement from all formats of the game.

In a recent interview, Pathan criticized former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the chairman of selectors when he was dropped. "I was part of the Indian team when Srikanth sir was the selector. I got injured and got kicked out and never played for India. No, that's the truth. And I have no qualms about it. I have huge respect for you. That time, the mindset was different," Pathan said on Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to World Cup.

Pathan believes that selectors back then often overlooked a player's past performances after a single bad tour or injury. He also criticized the tendency to judge players solely based on their performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"But come to 2020s, Wriddhiman Saha was literally out of the team for more than a year due to injury. What happened when he got fit? He got picked and was part of the XI. And one year is a long time. But because the Indian team thought of what the Indian team has done for him in the past before getting injured, we don't want to undervalue that. We want to value that. So when someone is sitting in the selection committee, you should not forget what the guy has done for the Indian team before the IPL. And it's not too far away I am talking about. Just because some guys are playing well in IPL, you think we should pick them. But don't forget the guys (who have done well in the past)," he added.

Pathan's comments highlight the importance of considering a player's overall contribution and not just their recent form when making selection decisions. It also emphasizes the need for a more balanced approach that values both past achievements and present performances.

Tags: #IrfanPathan, #KrishnamachariSrikkanth, #IndianCricket, #SelectionBias, #IPL