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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Cricket Series 2004 > Pathan wants to concentrate more on improving bowling 22.08 IST 22nd Apr 2004 By IndiaExpress Bureau Having impressed none other than Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, Indian cricket's latest revelation Irfan Pathan has put on hold aspirations to become an all-rounder and is just concentrating on improving his bowling at the moment. Unlike other tailenders, the 19-year-old Vadodara lad may have proved that wielding the willow comes naturally to him with his 49 in the Lahore Test against Pakistan but Pathan does not want to get carried away and would rather just work on acquiring "more control" in his bowling. "I have got a chance in Indian team as a bowler and I have to play as a bowler. Presently I am not thinking much on the lines of being an allrounder," Pathan told reporters on sidelines of a glittering function organised by the Gujarat Cricket Association to felicitate him and Parthiv Patel late on Wednesday night at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. "Whenever I get time in the nets I do practice batting and even devote extra time to it sometimes. But presently I am focussing more on bowling," he said. The seamer, however, added that if he started playing regularly for India, he would nurture his batting abilities. Pathan, who made an impressive debut against Australia recently, also felt that he needed to have more "control" in his bowling. "One has to keep improving in the game. I have to have some more control in my bowling... I have a lot to learn in this area", said the teenager. Pathan, who bagged 12 wickets in three-Test series that India won 2-1, attributed his form against the archrivals to the "immense confidence" he gained by playing against Australia in his debut series. "Australia series helped me a lot. I was lucky that my first tour was against the world champions. I got a lot of experience there and the confidence I gained sustained me on the Pakistan tour," Pathan said. Asked whether Akram had given him some tips, Pathan said it was not in Pakistan but in Australia that Akram had given tips on wrist action. On whether he had some special trick in his kitty as he had bowled out Pakistan vice-captain Yousuf Youhana five times on the tour, Pathan said he merely stuck to bowling a simple line and length and kept in mind the batsman's strengths and weaknesses. "One has to look where the batsman is going, which areas he is more confident playing shots. I simply bowled good line and length and was bowling well against him (Youhana)". The Vadodara lad singled out Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq when asked which batsmen tested his bowling abilities the most. "Inzaman is a world class batsman. He has more than 9500 runs and he played really superbly," he said. Taking Youhana's "prized scalp" in the last and deciding fifth one-dayer and Haq's wicket after he scored a ton as also the "Indian team's huddle" after clinching the Test series, are some of the moments of the historic tour which Pathan described as "most memorable." Stating that conditions in Australia and Pakistan are totally different, Pathan said "bowling flat" was what he learnt by playing the series in the subcontinent. Family members of Pathan and Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel were also present at the impressive function. Reliance Industries' Chief Executive Officer in Gujarat Parimal Nathwani, who presented a cheque of Rs 51,000 to both players from Gujarat, also invited them to join the company. Speaking on the occasion, former Indian player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad advised both youngsters to sustain the high standards that they have set for themselves just like batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and take the game "more seriously." Lauding their batting abilities, Gaekwad also hoped that Pathan and Patel would get their names into the list of some of the "top allrounders" of the country. GCA president Narhari Amin promised to provide all the necessary facilities to groom more players from Gujarat and hoped that state becomes a "manufacturing" hub of cricketing talent in the country. Large number of fans, mostly children made a mad scramble to get autographs of both the players. in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Cricket Series 2004 > |
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