Resting On Laurels Won't Do

It has been an exhilarating ride for Irfan Pathan onthe fast lane of international cricket. But one year after his debut, the21-year-old pace sensation is hungry for more success.

"It has been a good year, I am quite happy with myperformance. But I want to look forward, want to keep doing the good work I havedone so far. I want to concentrate on my cricket, I don't want to sleep on mysuccess," Pathan said in Dhaka.

Pathan's maiden appearance was in the historic AdelaideTest last December when India recorded its first win in Australia in 20 years.

Since then, Pathan has been the team's bowlingspearhead, his lethal left-arm swing bowling proving to be a key weapon for SauravGanguly and Co.

The amazing aspect of Pathan has been that when he cameon the international scene he was a well developed fast bowler.

Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram, who has been arole model and mentor, has said that Pathan was a more mature bowler than he wasat his age.

Combined with his batting potential, many say he is thefirst all-rounder India has produced after Kapil Dev.

But the Baroda youngster doesn't want to be carriedaway by comparisons with former greats.

"Feels good that I am being considered at par with such great players. Butit has just been one year for me, it is going to take many more years to achievewhat they have achieved," Pathan said.

"It is going to take years of hard work andconcentration. There are lot of talented people but very few achieve success. Itis a long way to go for me."

Recalling his first Test, Pathan said he was notintimidated by the huge frame of Matthew Hayden, who had broken the world recordfor the highest individual score in Test cricket few weeks ago, standing at thecrease.

"Dada told me that I am going to play three daysbefore the match. When I was to bowl the first ball, I was nervous, but afterthat my confidence started going up with each ball. We have a game plan forevery batsmen, and it was no different for the Australians."

Pathan's success is all the more creditable because ofhis style of bowling. While the likes of Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan havereinforced the argument that a bowler needs to hit the deck hard to succeed onIndian pitches, Pathan has shown that skillful use of the seam could also bearfruit on the dusty tracks of the sub-continent.

The young left-arm pacer is not perturbed by thecomparison evoked.

"Zaheer is close to taking 100 wickets, Srinathand Akram have all done well, no matter what conditions. My strength is swing,the pace will improve," he said.

PTI