Irfan Pathan requests BCA for a NOC, likely to transfer to another state

Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has been in news although the domestic season despite the fact that he hasn’t featured in many games. At the start of the season, he was anointed the captain of the Baroda team for the Ranji Trophy. Two games later the selectors sacked him not just as the skipper but also from the team.

He wasn’t considered for selection thereafter and recently when the team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was named their most experienced cricketer was missing once again. Sources now suggest that Irfan has sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) to move out.

“Irfan has a lot to offer to the team given his experience with the Indian team, in the IPL and having played domestic cricket for 18 years. Before the season started he was told that the board wanted him to also be the mentor of the side and groom the youngsters but after two games things changed,” a source privy to the details told CricTracker.

The left-arm seamer made his first-class debut for Baroda in the 2000/01 season and since then went on to play for India U19, excelled there and made his way to the India national team and played all three formats. He is one of the few left-amers in international cricket who have over 300 wickets to their name.

In talks with other teams

“He has been approached by other state teams and thus wants to obtain the NOC and represent some other team.”

“He is probably in talks with a few teams and wants not just to represent them but also take up the role of mentoring the youngsters. Irfan knows the game inside out and his knowledge will prove beneficial for a team that doesn’t boast of a lot of international representations,” the source further mentioned.

In the initial couple of games that Pathan played, he led the team well despite the unfavourable result. He enjoyed the confidence of his unit as most youngsters in Baroda cricket look up to him. He would now look to do a Wasim Jaffer, by joining a modest team and then building on with them in the upcoming season.

At 33, he still has a few years of cricket left in him and the opportunity to impart his knowledge and share his insight with the younger generation is what he seeks at this point.