"My choice would have been Irfan"

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is baffled by the Indian selection committee's decision to opt for Abhimanyu Mithun over an in-form Irfan Pathan for the much-awaited upcoming tour of Australia.
"I would've definitely picked Irfan. His previous experiences in Australia would have been a boost to Team India. I don't know why he wasn't considered," stunned Akram said on Wednesday.

Akram is baffled by the Indian selection committee's decision to opt Mithun over Pathan.

Pathan, who staked a claim by picking up 21 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls, in four Ranji Trophy matches this season, was picked for the last two one-dayers against the West Indies, but found no favour when the panel sat down to select the squad for the Test series Down Under.

Akram felt bringing back the buoyant Irfan at this stage would have been ideal.

"Irfan has hit peak form, and it would have been perfect to unleash him at this stage. He looks confident and his swing would have been very handy in those conditions," Akram said.

Akram, who has mentored Irfan in the past, also felt the selectors should have named Praveen Kumar's replacement after the last two ODIs against the West Indies. The UP pacer is out with an injury.

"If they gave Abhimanyu Mithun an opportunity in the Ahmedabad ODI, it would have only been fair to see how Irfan performed in the remaining two games. I think it's a bit unfair, but the selectors probably had a different line of thinking," Akram told a website.

Akram felt the 21-year-old Mithun, who was not considered during the tour of England despite injuries to several players, will be under pressure to get acclimatized to Australian conditions quickly.

"An experienced cricketer like Zaheer Khan has broken down twice in two previous tours to Australia. On a big tour like this, the pressure to perform is huge, and I think Mithun would struggle on that front, which is why Irfan's experience would have been handy," Akram said.

He also reckoned that India have learnt their lessons from the England tour, during which they failed to win a single match, by giving themselves enough time to warm up before the series opener in Melbourne on December 26.

"It's good to see the BCCI has scheduled two practice matches before the Boxing Day Test. I think overall, it should be good enough preparation," Akram said.

Irfan Pathan vows to prove his calibre

Irfan Pathan, the India and Baroda seamer, has said he plans to take full advantage of his recall to the India side to play the final two home ODIs against West Indies, and that he is determined to give it his best as playing for the country means "everything" to him. Irfan has not played for India since 2009. He drew attention this year because of his performances in the Ranji Trophy in which he is the leading wicket-taker in the Elite division, having taken 21 wickets from three games.

"I am really happy," Irfan told. "I am really pleased that I have been given the opportunity and I want to make sure I take full advantage of it; make sure I do my best." Irfan was with this family when he received news of his selection, and said being able to share the news with them made the moment all the more special.

"The dream to play for the country has always been there. When it is fulfilled you feel nothing gets better than this. Having all the luxuries in life - having a big car, big house - nothing comes close to this."

Irfan's last international match for India was during the 2009 World Twenty20; his last Test match was against South Africa in April 2008. He spent most of last season out with a severe back injury and has been working hard on his fitness and bowling action since, in an attempt to get back into the frame for India. He said the toughest part of his rehabilitation was not being able to simply go out there and play but his selection has vindicated all his hard work.

"It makes every second of (the rehab) worthwhile. When you look back and you work hard and you get the chance, you feel lucky, you feel blessed."

Prior to being selected, Irfan had said his current season could be even better than his breakthrough season in 2003-04. He said he is not only feeling fitter than ever, but has learned to use the old ball much better, in addition to his ability to swing the new ball. "If you are getting set batsmen out with the old ball, it is most pleasing," he said.

Having won and lost his place in the side, Irfan isn't taking anything for granted but said it was important to be himself and not try to change too much. "Be yourself. Be confident. Do what's best for you. At the end of the day, you need to go out there and perform."

Abhimanyu for Australia, Irfan replaces Umesh for the remaining ODIs

Abhimanyu Mithun, the Karnataka fast bowler, has been named as Praveen Kumar's replacement in India's Test squad for their tour of Australia. Irfan Pathan, the Baroda allrounder, has been picked for the last two one-dayers against West Indies, marking his return to the international setup after more than two years.

After Praveen was ruled out of the Tests with a fractured rib, the selectors had to add another seamer to the 17-man squad for Australia and the place was expected to go to either one of Mithun, Vinay Kumar or Irfan Pathan. Mithun got that spot, but a place in the ODI squad was vacated because Umesh Yadav is departing for Australia early. Irfan's performances in the ongoing domestic season have been rewarded with that spot for the final two one-dayers.

Irfan has not played for India since 2009, but drew attention because of his performance in this season's Ranji Trophy, in which he is the leading wicket-taker in the Elite division, having taken 21 wickets in three games.

Mithun took six wickets in three Tests on the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2010, his debut series. However, he had to make way for the returning Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth after that series, and his next opportunity did not come until May 2011 in the Caribbean. He took three wickets in the Test against West Indies in Barbados but was subsequently left out of India's tour of England.

He has also been in and out of India's one-day squads, typically only being called up as a replacement for other players. He replaced Praveen for the home ODIs against West Indies. He and Vinay both played the third ODI, at Motera; Vinay took 2 for 39 in eight overs while Mithun took just one wicket and conceded 47 runs from his seven overs. Vinay has been a more regular member of India's one-day team - he has 11 wickets from his last eight ODIs - but has never been part of an India Test squad.

Mithun joins Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma in India's pace department for the Australia tour, with Zaheer Khan selected provisionally, subject to him proving his fitness before the squad's departure. Seven of the players from the Test squad - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha and Wriddhiman Saha - will leave early for Australia, on December 8, to prepare for the series. The first tour game is a two-day match that starts on December 16, while the first Test starts December 26.

Irfan's inclusion is the only change to the ODI squad for the home series against West Indies, which India lead 2-1. Rahul Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary, none of whom have played a game in the series so far, remain in the squad.

India squad for last two ODIs: Virender Sehwag (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel (wk), Rohit Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Varun Aaron, R Ashwin, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma

Who will replace Praveen for the Aussie Tour

An injury to Praveen Kumar has left an empty slot for another seam bowler in India's Test squad for their tour of Australia. ESPNcricinfo looks at the prospects of the three bowlers who are most likely to figure in the selectors' discussions, to be held on Monday.

Irfan Pathan

It has been over three years since Irfan Pathan played a Test for India, and two since he slipped off the international scene. Lack of pace and penetration were two of the reasons he was dropped, and other seamers took his place. His performances in this Ranji Trophy season, however, have revived his chances of playing for India. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Elite division, with 21 wickets in four matches for Baroda, including five-wicket hauls in three consecutive matches.

The selectors could be looking to replace Praveen with a bowler of similar pace and swing to compliment the faster Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron. Irfan's abilities as a batsman also give him the edge, though his bowling form alone may be enough to merit selection. According to Sanath Kumar, the Baroda coach, Irfan seems to have got his bite back, and it shows in his body language.

"He's improving in every game. He is now getting his inswing back in a big way and he's getting the ball to swing away as well," Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. "His pace and accuracy have also improved."

Speed was never Irfan's forte and in the years since his Test debut, on the 2003-04 tour of Australia, he dropped a yard or two of pace. Sanath Kumar said Irfan's pace was now up a notch and he had developed the stamina to bowl longer spells.

"He has been bowling eight-nine over spells regularly. In a day he's been bowling around 25 overs, which is quite impressive for a fast bowler. His strength is with the new ball."

Irfan got his groove back, Kumar said, due to some technical changes. "We've worked on his loading. He used to load high and behind his body. That used to put a lot of strain on his back, which affected his balance and consequently his accuracy. We also worked on his wrist position and he's now able to swing the ball late. Overall, he appears more confident."

Irfan's chances of going to Australia will be helped by the fact that he is a left-arm bowler, something India may need if Zaheer Khan breaks down again. Experience in Australia and his Ranji form give Irfan his best chance of breaking into the national team since 2009.

Vinay Kumar
Vinay Kumar is one of two Karnataka bowlers - Abhimanyu Mithun is the other - competing for the slot vacated by Praveen. Vinay has been a regular in India's one-day plans but is yet to play a Test. He was not selected for the home Tests versus West Indies, with the selectors preferring to experiment with young quicks capable of bowling over 140kph consistently. Like Irfan, Vinay is not express and instead relies on swing and his legcutter. He has eight wickets from three Ranji Trophy games this season, with a best of 4 for 104, against Mumbai. His figures may not even closely match Irfan's but he belongs to a younger clutch of bowlers being tried out by the selectors, and has fairly satisfying numbers in India's two home ODI series since the World Cup.

Vinay had 4 for 30 against England in Delhi, and 2 for 43 against West Indies in Visakhapatnam, where he got the new ball to move and trouble the top order. Whether or not the selectors use the one-dayers as a yardstick for potential Test success will be known on Monday. Their choice should depend on the attributes they are looking for - pace v swing - with the aim being to fly out a varied seam attack capable of succeeding on Australian pitches.

Abhimanyu Mithun

If the selectors show a greater inclination towards pace, then Abhimanyu Mithun has the edge over the other two. He is the least experienced of the three, in terms of first-class matches played, but has more Test experience, however limited, than Vinay, and age on his side when compared to Irfan. Mithun, who burst onto the domestic scene two seasons ago, is yet to find his feet at the highest level. His opportunities so far have been limited to four Tests.

He was picked for the post-World Cup tour of the West Indies after Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth pulled out injured. He played the Barbados Test and took three wickets, but was omitted for the England tour and the home Tests against West Indies. He has 10 wickets in three matches in this Ranji season and was named as Praveen's replacement for the ongoing ODIs against West Indies. If there are long-term plans for him to be a Test bowler, this may be a good tour for him to go on, even if he does not get a Test.