Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan announces retirement from all forms of cricket

New Delhi | Jagran Sports Desk: India's 2007 T-20 World Cup hero, and all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, after serving the nation for 16 long years. One of India’s most prominent swing and seam bowlers, Pathan, however, may remain available for franchise-based leagues overseas.

"I am announcing retirement from all forms of cricket. I have been fortunate to share the dressing room with greats of the game like Ganguly, Dravid, and Laxman. I am calling time on my career," he said as reported by ANI.

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"I would like to thank my family for providing much-needed support. I would like to thank my fans. They have always hoped for my comeback. Their support has kept me going," Pathan added.

 

 

 

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India's 2007 T-20 World Cup hero, and all-rounder @irfanpathan_official announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, after serving the nation for 16 long years. One of India’s most prominent swing and seam bowlers, Pathan, however, may remain available for franchise-based leagues overseas. . . . . "I am announcing retirement from all forms of cricket. I have been fortunate to share the dressing room with greats of the game like Ganguly, Dravid, and Laxman. I am calling time on my career," said Irfan . . . . #cricket #india #news #sportsnews #indiacricket #indiancricketteam #irfanpathan #indiancricketet #indiaallrounder #indianews #cricketnews #retirement #cricketcareer #worldcup #t20worldcup #fastbowler #testcricket #odi #onedaycricket #t20cricket #pathan #jagranenglish #instawithjagranenglish #irfan_pathan #irfanpathan_offical #commentator #cricketcommentator #irfan #i#irfanpathanretirement Picture Credits: Instagram/Irfan Pathan

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The 35-year-old was considered by many as the most lethal swing and seam bowler to emerge from India after Kapil Dev.

Pathan played a clinical role in the final of the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan in 2007. He picked up three wickets and returned with the figures of 3-16 in his four overs and was named as the player of the match.

He is one of the three bowlers to have claimed a Test hat-trick for India and the first in the world to claim it in the first over of the match. In 2006, Pathan dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf on consecutive deliveries.

The swanky left-arm pacer featured in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is for India, bagging 301 wickets across all formats. He also managed to score 2,821 runs studded with a single hundred and 11 half-centuries.

He was also one of the finest all-rounders India have produced and has been promoted as an opener or a No 3 a few times for the team's cause. In 29 Tests, he averaged 31.57 with the bat, including a century and six fifties in 40 innings. In ODIs and T20Is, he averaged 23.39 and 24.57 respectively.

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Pathan donned the Indian jersey for the first time in Test cricket when he played against Australia at Adelaide in 2003. India won that match by four wickets and Pathan picked his maiden wicket in the game.

He last played a match for India in 2012 against Sri Lanka. Pathan is currently performing the role of mentor-cum-coach for the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team.

(With ANI Inputs)