It was definitely not the right move to send Pathan back. Just because he has been struggling with his bowling of late does not mean he does not have a very valuable contribution to make with the bat. He scored 111 against the Rest of South Africa in the first innings and played a great innings in the second innings too. His batting form is superior to Tendulkar, Jaffer, Sehwag etc at the moment - and his being left out can cost India dearly, especially now they will have to rely on their batsmen -as the pitch does not really assist bowlers- in order to win the match in Durban. The same may be the case in Cape Town.
I think Pathan's morale is really being affected when he is left out despite performing with the bat. I would at least have let him play the last two tests - then he can go back to India and focus on bowling.
Also, I don't see why Pathan is being sent back and Harbhajan isn't? Harbhajan hasn't bowled or batted nearly good enough to warrant him a place in the last test- if it is necessary for Pathan to play domestic games then even more so it is necessary for Harbhajan.
it is not fair decision to send irfan back home as many other (jaffer, vrv singh ) staying there , the team selection should have given a chance for irfan in place of wassim jaffer. but one thing is sure, in abroad , at warm up matches no one should make 100, as it happened previously some years back in australia , for tamil nadu's sadagopan ramesh, now it is turn for irfan pathan.
Its kind of harsh. Instead of criticizing or favoring him, we should encourage him to get back to his old self. Irfan is just 22, He definitely GOT IT, he is batting lot better than the lot of indian top order. He will be very useful cricketer in coming world cup once he finds his bowling MOJO.
I agree with you to the extent Pathan is selected primarily as bowler, but God Knows why he lost his bowling MOJO. Two reasons for his bowling problems.. 1) Blame Chappel and Dravid for overusing him as batsman. 2) Too many people corrected his bowling action, now he lost his original action.
Its better for Irfan to get back to reality and find his rhythm in domestic cricket. I wish him good luck and take Zaheer Khan as example.
Pathan scored a hundred in the 3 day match before 1st Test and bowled normally.But he is sent back. On the same logic the team management other players like Harbajan, Sehwag , VRV Singh , Tendulkar all should also be sent back so that they can regain their form in domestic cricket You cannot differnt rules for different players
y every1 r overreacting that pathan has been sent back.vot he will do by being the12th man everyother country does like this.if they r not in playing 11 they should be sent back to play domestic cricket its better not 2 blame any1. team management knows how important is pathan so they have done the right thing well done vengsarkar,chappel& dravid
It is absolutely wrong. Irfan is a great player and was our great weapon against Australia some years back. Cricket managers in India have failed to nurture a new blood. K. Mallick, Houston
In my opinion we should commenting on each and every decisions taken by selectors.We can not make each and everything a big issue. Let the selectors to do their job. We are cricket lovers, we should enjoy the game. I think selectors has more cricketing knowledge than us.Rediffmail should stop taking such kind of opinions.
