'Failure Follows Success'

 Saurav Ganguly was not the only Indian cricketer who could notperform in the disastrous home series against Pakistan. There were severalothers, too. Irfan Khan Pathan, who had been basking in the glory of hisnewly-achieved success and the resultant stardom until recently, also failedmiserably to live up to his high standards, let alone fulfil theexpectations of fans. So poor was Pathan’s performance with the ball thatIndia did not play him in the full Test and one-day series. It was theyoungster's first experience with the stark realitiesof life at the top. The fast bowler spoke onvarious aspects of his career. Excerpts from the interview:

How do you assess your India career so far?

I haven’t completed two years in international cricket. But I’vealready experienced the vicissitudes of life at the top. I know I’m at acritical stage of my career and I’ve to prove myself all over again. But Ihaven’t failed as miserably as it’s made out to be.

To what would you ascribe your poor performance in the recent series againstPakistan?

My bad luck. What else? It’s just one of those things when nothing goesright for you despite your tireless efforts. But I think this was the onlyseries in which I performed below par after doing well in almost all the earlierones.Even the greatest of players go through a lean patch. I’m still trying toestablish myself in international cricket.

So what have you learnt from the failure against Pakistan?

Not just from my not-so-good performance in the recent series but from mywhole career so far have I understood that success and failure don’t lastlong. You’re bound to have a bout of failure after a spell of success; andvice versa. I think it’s quite natural; maybe inevitable, too.

Don’t you think you should be concentrating more on your still-buddingcareer than modelling for commercials?

I’ve always given top priority to cricket. I do a bit of modelling onlywhen I’m completely away from cricket. It’s wrong to associate the two. Cricketisn’t played for 365 days in a year. I don’t understand why people singleout cricketers for criticism in this regard. It would seem as if we aren’tserious about our cricket. After all, we aren’t playing for ourselves but forour country and carrying the hopes of millions of people.

Cricketers in other parts don't spend as much time on modellingas the Indian players.

So what? I think people talk about our appearance in television commercialsonly when we don’t perform well as individuals and as a team. When we do well,nobody says a word. The same could be said about representatives of the media.People keep changing their way of thinking depending on our successand failure. And you can’t do anything about it.

How has been the experience as a model?

It’s a totally new experience. I’ve learned many things from modellingalso. It’s harder to face the camera than to face a thunderbolt from, say,Shoaib Akhtar!

How did it feel like walking on the ramp during the India Fashion Week?

It was very exciting, even unique.

Have you found your girlfriend at last?

No, not yet!

How do you plan to stage a comeback into the national team?

By sheer hard work and consistently producing good performances. But, I’mnot completely out of the team. It’s just a part of the team strategy. Aplayer’s inclusion or omission depends on many factors – like his fitnessand form, the nature of the pitch, etc. I’m very confident of making asuccessful comeback. Have no doubt on this score.

Do you agree that comparisons with a legend like Wasim Akram so early in yourcareer have done you more harm than good? After all, people tend to expect youto perform like him each time you have a ball or a bat in your hand.

I feel honoured to have been compared to someone like Wasim Akram. But it’sa totally wrong comparison. He is, of course, one of my idols. I’m nowherenear as good. He was a great cricketer, a stalwart. But, such uncalled-forcomparisons put unnecessary pressure on you.

What types of pitches are good for you as a bowler?

I’ve no problems on any pitch, whether it’s a slower or a faster one.Pitches are generally not that bad. It’s only when you don’t take wicketsthat you start finding fault with the pitches. One should learn to bowl welland successfully on any kind of wicket anywhere in the world.

There is a growing feeling that you have lost your much-publicisedreverse-swing.

I don’t think so. My reverse-swing is as good as my in-swing and out-swing.People talk like this only when you don’t take wickets. Once you start pickinga hatful, these very people give credit to your reverse-swing andother swings.

Who do you think is the most difficult batsman to dismiss?

None in particular. It depends on your form. If you’re bowling well, youcan dismiss any batsman, howsoever great.

Do you call yourself a genuine all-rounder?

No, my batting average is nowhere near as good as my bowling average. But, Ialways try to contribute useful runs with the bat and help my team.

How seriously do you take your batting? Sandeep Patil was on record sayingthat you could become an excellent No. 6 batsman for Team India in Test cricket.

I do take my batting very seriously. I’ve to concentrate more andimprove my staying power at the wicket. But, I’m always more of a batting all-rounder,to answer your earlier question precisely.

Did you ever expect to achieve celebrity status at such a young age, givenyour humble background?

Yes and no. But then I was always very confident of my ability and wascertain that I would play for the country one day. Maybe, I’m one of the fewlucky cricketers in this vast country who got the breaks at the righttime. By God’s grace I grabbed the opportunities that came my way byperforming creditably.