Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, July 10: A scalp hunter he surely is, hungry for runs he certainly is, ravenous for success he obviously is, but mean he simply is not. He is Irfan Pathan Khan, the champion all-rounder, who has scored around 7,000 runs and around 700 wickets in all formats of cricket and has been roped by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) to represent J&K in Ranji Trophy as Player cum Mentor for this season.
In an exclusive interview with EXCELSIOR, the ace all-rounder talked about the cricketing talent in Jammu and Kashmir and the basic requirements to improve the standard of cricket in the State.
Excerpts:
Q: You have been roped by JKCA to serve as mentor cum player for J&K Ranji Trophy team. Now, you have watched players from both the regions. How do you see their talent?
A: It is a good journey so far and a good experience. JKCA has organised a series of tournaments at the district level in almost all the districts of the State, wherein over 30,000 boys took part. I watched around 300 selected players from the districts across both the regions and saw good talent among them, but the dire need is to work on their mental toughness. The district players need to gain experience to perform consistently. I, along with coach Milap Mewada, have started working on the district players, whose skill needs to be fine-tuned and potential to be explored. We, hope to find a good bunch of players in all J&K teams by the start of the season. I feel that we should have taken the charge somewhat earlier, but it is better late than never.
Q: What in your opinion are the basic requirements in J&K to make state teams blossom at the National scene?
A: You know, the fundamental requirements are good number of turf pitches and other allied infrastructure. I have observed that the CEO JKCA, AH Bukhari, under the patronage of JKCA Administrators-Justice CK Prasad and Rafat Alam, have already taken initiatives with regard to development of turf wickets at the district level. The things will not be completed overnight and it will take some time to get a requisite infrastructure. Matting cricket is a different ball game. It it is a challenging task to mould cricketers, who play on matting surfaces, into better turf wicket players. We are working on that also. Expecting better results by playing on matting strips is to cry for the moon.
Q: JKCA has organised good number of tournaments this season. How do you take it?
A: It is always a positive sign when the players are provided opportunity to take part in good number of matches as the matches are the best form of coaching as it involves ‘learning by doing process’. It is learnt that JKCA has created history by organising series of tournaments this season. It will surely help the players to perform better. However, for doing so practically, the boys will have to get married to the game.
Q: One gets a feeling that JK cricketers are playing with a bruised psyche because of the turmoil in the State. Would you like to recommend a psychologist to assist you and the coach?
A: You see, the basic ‘funda’ to succeed in any field is to be mentally tough. And my job as a mentor is to inculcate mental toughness among the Jammu and Kashmir cricketers. One plays with a damaged psyche only when he lacks mental toughness. I think, me and Coach Milap will succeed in making the players mentally tough, despite being a challenging job. Milap has dealt with all kind of players. He was the man to make Chhattisgarh Under-19 team to qualify for the knockout stage, and has the distinction of helping cricketers of repute to sparkle at the national and international scene. He has also helped me to improve my batting. So, there is no immediate need to bring a psychologist.
Q: You have got around 7,000 runs and took around 700 wickets in all formats of cricket. How would you make your experience to count?
A: A would love to make balance with regard to limitations and expectations and will leave no stone unturned in making the players believe in themselves and will make endeavours to show them the winning ways. I reckon, self esteem is the basic mantra to win. J&K has yet to win a Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mushtaq Ali Trophy and not to talk of the Ranji Trophy. I will try to make the players perform and win matches at the bigger circuit. Skill apart, mindset and application is the name of the game. However, expecting overnight miracles will be absurd.
Q: What is your ‘mantra’ to make the players enhance their performance?
A: Stick to the basics, enjoy each others’ success and love togetherness. United we stand, divided we fall. Moreover, work on your fitness and pass BCCI’s newly introduced Yo-Yo Test.
Q: JKCA is the only Association in the country which has two wings-Kashmir and Jammu. Will it be J&K or JK for you?
A: I have represented the Indian team, IPL teams and many other teams which had players from different regions and cultures. So, it is not a new thing to me, rather it is my cup of tea to make Jammu and Kashmir cricketers play as a cohesive unit. I have been part of the Indian teams that have good record in high voltage contests against formidable teams like Australia and Pakistan. I will make all my experience to count in making ‘&’ silent in the word ‘Jammu & Kashmir’.
Q: J&K has a galaxy of talented and experienced players representing the State in Ranji Trophy. Have you identified any new talent?
A: Undoubtedly, there is a bunch of talented and experienced cricketers serving the State from a long time. There is a need to amalgam experience with young talent. I have identified a couple of young boys, whose talent needs to be explored. But, it will take some time to mould them and hone their skill.
Q: What is your message for budding cricketers of the State?
A: The young cricketers need to work hard and have dedication, determination and devotion to score big runs and take good haul of wickets, besides working on motor-ability and anticipation. They need to score 700 to 800 runs in the season and take 30 to 40 wickets to claim selection for the higher levels. Stick to basics should be the buzz word.
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