Out of favour medium-pacer Irfan Pathan today said he was dropped from Team India purely on the basis of performance.
Out of favour medium-pacer Irfan Pathan today said he was dropped from Team India purely on the basis of performance but vowed to return and reach a level where nobody can even "touch" him.
The India discard said it was disappointing but challenging as it gives him a chance to prove himself all over again.
Talking to reporters with his elder brother Yusuf on his side at a promotional event here, the junior Pathan said, "I have never run away from challenges. It's important to take challenge and move ahead in your life."
A disappointed Pathan said, "It has been happening with me for the last five-six years. Even if I have done slightly bad, I am getting dropped. At the same time, I am not looking for an excuse. As selectors have dropped me, I think I have gone one step down in terms of performance."
But the elegant seamer, who has been ignored again for next month's tri-Series and ICC Champions Trophy, vowed to come back with a bang.
"I want to reach a level where no one can touch me or drop me. It's not being optimistic, it's my belief and I have full confidence in that," said the Baroda seamer.
"I am just 24-25 and I don't think not many people have achieved what I have... I can go on telling me about World Cup finals and so many other achievements... But at the moment, my performance is down so I am out," he said.
"I am never a person with excuses. I can say a number of excuses but I don't think that's my foray. If I am dropped, that means something is wrong, I have to sort that out," Pathan, who has a hat-trick in the very first over in a Test match against Pakistan (2006) in Karachi, added.
Irfan's last one-day appearance for India was in the series in Sri Lanka (January-February, 2009) where he took four wickets but at 7.06 runs an over in two matches.
What has also hurt his chances of making the national side is that his batting has fallen away in ODIs -- he hasn't scored a half-century in nearly three years.
Irfan rubbished suggestions that his increased focus on batting had affected his bowling.
"I don't think it has affected my bowling. At junior level for Baroda, I have batted at No three and four, so I don't think it is an issue."
He was also part of three games during India's dismal World Twenty20 campaign, but picked up only one wicket and did not contribute much with the bat either.
"I have always said that I am a bowler who wants to contribute with the bat as well. With the time, I am going to be an allrounder well. But I have to play continuous cricket as well," he said.
He hasn't been a part of the Test side since the home series against South Africa in April 2008.
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