Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan looks all set to make a grand comeback to cricket in the upcoming Lanka Premier League T20. Irfan recently confirmed his signing for the Kandy Tuskers over on Twitter, expressing excitement over being able to enjoy his favorite game once again.
“Looking forward to having fun”- Irfan Pathan on playing for the Kandy Tuskers in the LPL T20
“I am definitely looking forward to this. Yes, I had retired from T20 cricket, but I can still play around the world,” the 36-year-old all-rounder told Cricinfo. “Hopefully, I will be able to have fun with my game as well, which I didn’t have for the last two years. I think I can still play well. But I will start slowly and see how this goes, and only then I will take it forward.”
Irfan’s acquisition further bolsters a star-studded Kandy lineup that features the likes of Chris Gayle, Wahab Riaz, and Kusal Perera, among several other international stars. It will be interesting to see how well he warms up to his comeback after being out of cricket for one-and-a-half years. Irfan’s last outing in competitive cricket dates back to February 2019 where- representing Jammu and Kashmir- he competed in a T20 match against Kerala.
Tuskers’ co-owner, Bollywood actor Sohail Khan, also backed Irfan and his experience to come good for the team. “Irfan’s inclusion will not only add to the firepower of the squad but his experience will be a huge asset to the team,” he said.
“Happy to help Ranji teams with my experience”
Presently, Irfan is associated with Star Sports official Hindi commentary panel for the 2020 IPL at the UAE. While he hasn’t been active in competitive cricket, the famous Karachi hat-trick taker has plied his trade in several exhibition games. Earlier in March, he played for the India Legends team in the Road Safety T20 series
For the time being, however, Irfan seems content to be housing his T20 freelancer aspirations. He has also expressed his desire to be involved with a domestic team in the Ranji Trophy in a backstaff role. “I just need a bit of clarity about domestic cricket. As soon as I get some clarity, I would love to help out whichever team I can. If I can share my experience, I would love to do it. That’s always open.”