Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India all rounder Irfan Pathan on Sunday made a startling revelation that ex India skipper Sourav Ganguly did not wanted him in the team initially. According to Irfan, the ex India skipper was circumspect whether to pick him (Irfan was 19 years old) in the side in his debut series against Australia in 2003.
During a recent interaction on Star Sports, the now-retired all-rounder said Sourav came to him and said, “I did not want you in the team.”
Irfan went on to reveal the exact reason why Sourav did not wanted to throw him against the Aussies.
“Dada thought that I was too young as a 19-year-old to be playing in Australia and that I would be challenged,” said Irfan.
As it turned out, Irfan was the find of the tour. He picked four wickets in the two matches which he played, including a three-wicket haul in Sydney. Pathan further went on to say that Sourav later come up to him and admitted his mistake. The over Irfan bowled at Ricky Ponting is still remembered by fans.
Irfan further added, “He came up to me and said how he was wrong in his views. That really shocked me, because very rarely does a skipper talk about the selection and then admits his mistake.”
Irfan went on to feature in 29 Tests, picking 100 wickets at 32.26 while also scoring 1105 runs. He scored one century and six fifties.