'I wish I would have played more': Irfan Pathan on only 'regret' he has after announcing his retirement

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Saturday. The news sure got netizens talking as many blamed Greg Chappell for his illustrious career coming to an end.

However, Pathan, who put an end to a 19-year-long cricketing career, said he has no complaints but does have a regret.

He says he wanted to play more for India and how that at the age of 27-28 when people start their careers, his, unfortunately, neared the end.

“People start their career when they are 27-28 and then go on to play till 35. When I was 27, I had taken 301 international wickets, so that was it. That is the only regret I have,” said Pathan, now 35.

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). 

Thank you all for making this journey most memorable.Wanted to Thank all the coaches & team mates.After my family,my fans have been my biggest strength! Thank u for not leaving me in my tough times.. #IrfanPathanRetires pic.twitter.com/axV3QvdO3p

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 4, 2020

He burst onto the scenes with his amazing 9 for 16 against Bangladesh in a U-19 match in Pakistan. He skills got him immediately into the senior squad where he toured Australia in 2002 and troubled players like Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

“I wish I would have played more and could have taken that tally to 500-600 wickets and scored more runs, but it did not happen,” he said.

“A 27-year-old Irfan Pathan, at the peak of his career, should have got more opportunities but it did not happen for whatever reasons. No complaints but looking back, there is regret.” Pathan said in 2016 he got an idea that he would never get to play for India again.

“I knew after 2016 that I am not going to make a comeback when I was the highest run-scorer in Mushtaq Ali trophy. I was the best all-rounder and when I spoke to selectors, they were not very happy with my bowling.

“When you know they are not happy (things don’t happen). But after 2016-17, I kept pushing myself. Some league offers came my way and I am glad I took it. It was J and K cricket, I was playing and mentoring and I am glad I did this for them,” said Pathan, who remains a mentor to the Jammu and Kashmir side.

The biggest high in Pathan’s career came when he became the 2nd Indian to claim a Test hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006.

“It was a memorable event but personally I don’t speak about that hat-trick because we lost the match. I speak proudly about the matches in which I have even taken one wicket,” said Pathan.

“When I took the hat-trick, I didn’t know how big it was. That was in 2006, but people still talk today about it and they do because the way ball swung, it doesn’t swing like that every-day.” 

Due to injury, however, Pathan only ended up playing 29 Tests. Among his last three appearances was the man of the match performance in 2008.

Talking about not getting a chance again, the Baroda-born cricketer said he still doesn’t know why he was sidelined from the longest format.

“People talk about the Perth Test and if people know the whole stats, it was my second last Test (third last actually) and I was the Man of the Match and after that, I did not get the opportunity. Even in my last game against South Africa, I was playing as an all-rounder, I was batting at number seven,” he said.

“An all-rounder’s job is not to take wickets but to score runs as well. And I remember, being not out in both the innings. And after that I did not get selected for Test matches and I got a hint there, that something is going on which is not in my control and it is fair enough, it happens and you have to move on,” he recollected.

Pathan did not blame anyone but said he could have played more if he had the support system that the current players have.

“Like how the workload is managed for the Indian team. A lot of boys come, they don’t play good, but they are taken back. (Wridhiman) Saha is a big example, he did not play for a year, but was given a chance,” he said. “If there was a support system, it would have been better. If everything could have been managed properly, I could have been able to manage my injuries better. I used to bowl and bat a lot and did not rest and then did not pay attention to injuries.”

(Inputs from PTI)