Irfan rues missing World Twenty20

I lost the chance of reaching one of my biggest goals, says fast-bowler.

KARACHI: Mohammad Irfan, the tallest cricketer to date, revealed that he has been left devastated after missing the ongoing World Twenty20 with a hip injury.

The seven-foot, one-inch pacer said that after making his comeback in 2012, he had set the target of representing Pakistan in the World Twenty20 this year and the 2015 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup to be played in Australia.

However, the 31-year-old has suffered back-to-back hip injuries. First was in November of 2013 against South Africa when he fell while bowling, and the other in the domestic T20 tournament last month which proved fatal for his hopes.

“I’m really devastated because I’d put in a lot of hard work to play in the World Twenty20 and the 2015 ODI World Cup,” said Irfan in an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune.

“I will not be able to achieve one of my biggest goals; to help Pakistan win their second World Twenty20. However, I’ve seen enough up and downs in my life which will help me recover from this injury and the setback of missing out on a mega event.”

‘I have been a fighter throughout’

Irfan had to face many hardships before he decided to pursue professional cricket. Earlier, working in a factory had made it difficult for him to focus on the sport, but he eventually moved to Karachi in 2007 to pursue his ambition. Unfortunately, it was during this time that he fell ill.

More disheartening days came Irfan way when his experience, while representing Pakistan against England  in two ODIs in 2010, went horribly wrong. He was forgotten due to poor performance in the series.

It took him more than two years to come into reckoning once again, but when he did, it was as a lethal fast-bowler,bowling with serious pace who extracted vicious bounce out of even dead pitches.

“I’ve been a fighter throughout my life and I feel that the challenges I’ve faced so far in my career have only improved me as a person and cricketer. The aim now is to comeback fitter to achieve my next goal, which is to play in the 2015 World Cup in Australia because those tracks will suit me a lot.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.

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