Plagued by a lackluster form and niggling injuries, Irfan Pathan admitted that
things were not going his way but was keen to prove his form and fitness before
the World Cup.
Pathan, who is part of the World Cup squad, has been
asked to play for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy one dayer against Central
on Feb 25 here to help assess his recovery from soreness in the bowling shoulder
that kept him out of the four-match series against Sri Lanka.
"One can see me perform in the match and decide whether I am fit or not,"
said the beleaguered bowler, here on a commercial visit.
"I am looking forward to the game in Ahmedabad. It will
be good match-practice before the World Cup," the left-arm seamer from
Baroda said.
"My fitness is good. The team physio and trainer have
advised some shoulder strengthening exercises," said Pathan who last represented
India in the fourth ODI against Windies at Vadodara.
Pathan was dropped from the team during the South African
tour as he had a poor run with the leather in the five-match one-day international
series.
After being sent home from South Africa, he was not considered
for the first three ODI against Windies at home after he failed to strike form
in the domestic circuit.
"I am proud of the manner in which I have handled myself
in the past few months," said Pathan while referring to the time he spent
outside the Indian team in the recent weeks.
Referring to his inability to strike form with the ball and his recent shoulder
injury, the 22-year-old pacer, who has bagged 115 ODI wickets in 73 matches,
said, "I have tried to look at only the positives of all that happened
during the last few months."
"Sometimes things do not go your way. That is what is
happening to me," added the all-rounder who burst into the international
scene in 2003 with his in-swinging deliveries which earned him comparisons with
Pakistani cricketing icon Wasim Akram.
Pathan said he was eager to do well during the World Cup in
the West Indies.
"My morale is good. All I want is to bowl and try and
win the World Cup (for the country)," he said, adding "I am looking
forward to the challenge."
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