'A lot of good, competitive cricket is still left in me'

‘I’m perfectly all right now and bowling confidently and comfortably, without any trace of injury.’

Irfan Pathan tells Haresh Pandya he’s looking forward to rebuilding his career and playing for India again.

Pace ace Irfan Pathan, who was rendered hors de combat by a rib injury in September 2013, and consequently missed most of the last Ranji Trophy season, will bowl for Baroda against Mumbai in the West Zone one-dayers, for the Ramakant Desai Trophy, in Rajkot on Thursday.

This is the first time the handsome 29-year-old cricketer, who has slightly remodelled his action, will bowl in a match since fracturing his rib.

“I’ve fully recovered from the injury. I’m feeling better now. I’ve been bowling in the nets and bowling well and in rhythm for that matteer,” he told this Rediff.com, at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday, while watching his teammates sweat it out in the nets.

“I’ll not only play against Mumbai, but also bowl. And I will complete my quota of 10 overs, if required.”

Pathan, who returned after being cleared by the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore only on Tuesday, neither batted nor bowled in the nets, but was busy exercising vigorously on the sidelines of the ultra-modern cricket stadium.

“He has just returned, but I can assure you he is fit and will bowl against Mumbai and the other teams. You’ll see how fit he is and how well he bowls,” said his brother and Baroda captain Yusuf.

Though unable to bowl, Pathan played against Services, Saurashtra and Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy as a specialist batsman and did pretty well. His 84 against Rajasthan in Jaipur was a brilliant innings in terms of technique, footwork and stroke-production. He also featured in a couple of G-1 Reliance One-Day Cricket Tournament matches as a batsman.

“I’m perfectly all right now and bowling confidently and comfortably without any trace of injury,” he reiterated.

“I want to prove myself in the Ramakant Desai Trophy one-dayers. I’m sure I’ll do a good job with the ball, too.”

Pathan, who has played 29 Tests and 120 One-Day Internationals, and taken 100 wickets in both versions, said that he is “keen” to represent India again.

“A lot of good, competitive cricket is still left in me,” he emphasised.

“I’ve always taken my batting as seriously as my bowling and there is no reason why I can’t hope to play for the country again.”

The dependable all-rounder further said: “I may have missed a number of opportunities to play for the country. But you really can’t help injuries if you’re a cricketer, particularly a fast bowler. Now that all injuries are behind me, I look forward to rebuilding my career and playing for India again.

“In the final analysis it’s the performance that matters and I won’t spare any effort in this regard.”