NEW DELHI, Feb 23: Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar has said that Irfan Pathan may not be on the plane to the West Indies if found unfit.
Vengsarkar dropped the bombshell in Mumbai on Friday by saying that if Pathan is found to be unfit, he will be withdrawn from the World Cup squad. The left-arm pacer is scheduled to represent West Zone in a Deodhar Trophy match against Central Zone in Baroda on Saturday.
Vengsarkar and physio John Gloster will be present during the match to asses Pathan’s fitness. Pathan missed the first three matches of the four-match ODI series against the West Indies and was recalled into the Indian team for only the final game at Baroda.
However, he missed the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to soreness in the bowling shoulder. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had already made it clear that Pathan should prove his fitness by playing in a Deodhar Trophy One-Dayer
One of the stars of Team India not long time ago, Pathan has also been struggling with his form and was sent back home midway through the tour of South Africa. –Agencies