The former team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan is back in Kashmir with J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) to resume his role of mentoring the J&K cricketers.
Pathan, who last year discharged the role of J&K cricketteam’s player-cum-mentor, would be only playing the role of mentor this season.After being away for the off-season, Pathan is back on his job of mentoring thebudding cricketers of the J&K State.
Upon his arrival Pathan wasted no time, and directly joinedthe ongoing correction camp of top J&K cricketers who underwent Yo-Yofitness test on July 29. The test was held under the supervision of former teamIndia trainer Sudarshan V P, J&K coach Milap Mewada and Pathan himself andboth officials as well as players looked happy to be part of the camp startedwell in time this season.
Taking his time off from the ongoing camp and talking on thevarious issues pertaining to J&K cricket, Irfan Pathan told Greater Kashmirthat he is focused on his job of guidingJ&K cricketers and has no time for controversies.
“The process has started, players are been given thefacilities and training that they need. The players are enjoying it and we areseeing the positive outcomes. Whether I am here or not, the process will go on.It is neither about Irfan Pathan nor JKCA, it is all about J&K cricket andcricketers,” Pathan said.
“Last year we witnessed a number of positive developments.First time in the history of JKCA so many youngsters in all age groups werecalled for National Cricket Academy (NCA) and zonal camps in a single year. FromUnder-16 to under-19 agre groups, we saw youngsters with lot of potentialgetting into eyes of the national selectors and called up for camps. We sawRasikh playing in IPL and Qamran Iqbal for Under-19 India team,” he said.
Pathan said that his job to is to guide and make sure thatplayers reach their potential and give out their best.
“There are a lot of positive things happening in J&Kcricket. My job is to guide and make sure players reach upto their purepotential. If I am successful in that, I consider my job is done .From here on,I have to make sure that I share my experience with the boys, spread thepositivity as much as possible and want players to play a good quality cricketas a team,” Pathan elaborated.
“My aim is to contribute to J&K cricket. I am focused onmy job and don’t want to waste time on unwanted things or any kind ofcontroversy,” he added.
Role as Mentor
Asked about his change of role from being player-cum-mentorto only mentor this season with J&K Cricket, Irfan Pathan said it isnothing new for him and role has not changed much. Last year as a player hecouldn’t do as much as he had set the standards for his own self but stillemerged as second best scorer for J&K in Ranji Trophy. Pathan scored 428runs and took 19 wickets for J&K last year in Ranji trophy. Despite that hethis time chose to be as mentor only and see groom J&K youngsters.
“I am only mentor this year and not coach-cum-mentor. MilapMewada is there as coach and I don’t need to boast about his credentials andwork ethics here. I will be this year as mentor for J&K boys. It is similarjob like what I did last year but this time I will make sure to guide J&Kboys upto my best ability,” he said.
Impressed with Fitness Improvement
“I am very happy to see boys doing well and this camp hascertainly helped them. Sudarshan who ishere is an experienced guy and knows his job perfectly well. He will not bewith the team all along but will work in different phases. He will set aprogram for each individual and players will need to stick to that and trainaccordingly,” he said.
“After being part of camp for one month, players whostruggling to score 15 in Yo-Yo fitness test, have gone on to cross the setlevels easily, indicating the effectiveness of the camp. The players need tocontinue to work hard on similar lines and the long-term results will bethere,” Pathan commented while giving examples of positives coming out fromfitness camp.
Lot of positive things happening in J&K cricket
Irfan, former team India cricketer said that there are a lotof positive things happening in J&K cricket and one should praise theefforts of JKCA CEO and Administrator retired Justice CK Prasad for that.
“I don’t want to talk about the internal matters of JKCA butI would like to praise JKCA CEO and Administrator CK Prasad for his efforts. Heis doing a wonderful job and players are happy with the things happeningaround. They are trying to provide players best available facilities andtraining. This is what players want and they are getting that,” he said.
No time for controversies
Last year, some of the former players who were working withJKCA as selectors had resigned alleging inference from the former team Indiaall-rounder in the selection process. Later, JKCA roped in outside Stateselectors who did the selection.
“It is not about the Irfan Pathan’s personal gain or JKCAofficial. It is all about J&K cricket and its players. If they are gettingbenefit then everything is going well,” Pathan said.
“Neither have I wanted to go into history neither whatpeople are saying. Everyone knows about that. I have nothing to do with that.My job is to ensure than players are getting benefited, doing well and if thatis not happening then I have no work here,” he said while signing off.