Irfan Pathan Biography 
Irfan Pathan is an Indian cricketer who started to play in the late 2003. He is one of the important members of the national team until 2006. He began his career as a left arm fast-medium swing bowler. The International Cricket Council named him as the Emerging Player of the Year 2004.
He was born on 27th October 1984 in Baroda, Gujarat in a poor family. His father was a muezzin and he wanted him to become an Islamic scholar. But he and his half-brother Yusuf took an interest in cricket. He got his training from the former Indian captain Datta Gaekwad and he was selected in the Under 14 Baroda cricket team and when he was selected for Under 15 level to play for Baroda in a national tournament, he was presented with a full set of cricket equipment.
When he was only 13 he played for Baroda Under-16 team and when he was just 15 he played for Under-19 team. His first class debut was against Bengal in March 2001. Though his performance was not so good, Baroda team managed to win the Ranji Trophy. Then he played in the Irany Trophy also. But he was sent back again to the Under 19 team. In Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2002, he took six wickets against South Africa.
He was selected for India A team in 2003 and travelled to England. In the same year he was selected to compete in an Asian Youth ODI in Pakistan where he scored 18 wickets at 7.38 at an economy rate of 5.85. His Test performance started in December 2003 replacing injured Zaheer Khan. He was dropped out when Zaheer returned back. He took part in 2004 Asian Cup and was the leading wicket taker in that series with 14 wickets. He also played in ODI Indian Oil Cup in Sri Lanka in August.
He was recalled to ODI team and played in the series against Australia and Pakistan in 2007. He played for Punjab team in 2009 IPL and his performance retained his position in national T20 team and played in 2009 ICC World Twenty 20.
Published: N/A
Updated: December 20, 2012
