Mohammad_Irfan

Mohammad Irfan

Mohammad Irfan

Pakistani cricketer

This article is about the cricketer, born 1982. For other people (including cricketers) with the same name, see Mohammad Irfan (disambiguation).

Mohammad Irfan (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد عرفان; born 6 June 1982) is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented Pakistan in Test, ODI and T20 cricket. Known for his height of 7'1" (216 cm), he is the tallest player to play first-class and international cricket.[1][2][3]

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Early life

Irfan was born in the village of Gaggo Mandi in Central Punjab into a Muslim Jat farming family, having two sisters and four brothers, the brothers being all over six feet tall while the father is 6’9'’ (205 cm) tall.[4]

Before playing professional cricket he worked in a plastic-pipe factory in order to support his family.[5]

Domestic and franchise career

First-class contract

After impressing coaches at the National Cricket Academy, Irfan got several offers from first-class teams including Habib Bank and ZTBL. However it was KRL opener, Azhar Ali, who convinced KRL coach Rashid Iqbal to give Irfan a trial with Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). Azhar had seen Irfan take 4 wickets against Pakistan A and had immediately called KRL telling them that Irfan would be a good fit for their team. Irfan went for the trial and got selected.

He made his first-class debut in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in October 2009 playing for Khan Research Laboratories. He bowled economically but was unable to take any wickets in a high scoring game.[6] In his second first-class game, Irfan took 7–113 in the second innings and 9 wickets overall in the match. His first wicket in professional cricket was of young Pakistani international batsmen Ahmed Shehzad. He also took the wicket of Imran Farhat and injured Hasan Raza with a bouncer before taking his wicket.[7]

Irfan continued to impress early on in his first-class career. In his third match, he grabbed 11 wickets to help his side to their first win of the championship. He recorded 5/27 in the first innings and 6/96 in the second innings.[8]

Before he was offered a lucrative break in cricket, Irfan contemplated giving up the game and was working for a plastic pipe company. He confirmed his height as 7'1" which makes him the tallest first-class cricketer of all time above county players Anthony Allom, Paul Dunkels and Will Jefferson, each individually measured at 6'10".[9]

T20 franchise career

Irfan announced that he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to represent them in the 2011 IPL Season. This deal was to valid only as long as the PCB and the BCCI give their approval. The main reason for Irfan being given a trial with KKR was because former Pakistani pace-bowler Wasim Akram recommended Irfan to the KKR management. Irfan's contract was to earn him $75,000 plus another $2,000 for every game he played. However the contract needed to be approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India[10][11][12][13] Irfan's contract also required approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board[14]

On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Edmonton Royals in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament.[15][16] He was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament for the Edmonton Royals, with six dismissals in six matches.[17]

In August 2018, during the 2018 Caribbean Premier League, Irfan conceded just 1 run and grabbed 2 wickets from 4 overs, bowling for the Barbados Tridents against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. This was the most economical four-over spell in T20 cricket.[18]

In September 2018, he was named in Balkh's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[19] The following month, he was named in the squad for the Sylhet Sixers team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League.[20] In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Rajshahi Royals in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League. Rajshahi Royals were the Bangladesh Premier League champions that season, and in the final, Irfan took 2/18 in his four over stint.[21]

In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Colombo Stars following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.[22]

Irfan played for Quetta Gladiators in the 2022 PSL.

International career

Early days

Irfan worked in a pipe factory, earning just 300 rupees ($3) a week, before being spotted by former first-class cricketer Nadeem Iqbal in a club match, after which he made his debut for the Pakistan national cricket team at 28 years of age. Irfan was brought in to replace Pakistan's two prominent and core bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who were accused of spot fixing in 2010. This was a perfect opportunity for Irfan to shine for Pakistan as they looked to move forward without their two great bowlers. However, Irfan's ODI debut against England in 2010 saw a reduction by 9 overs in the match due to bad weather conditions. He finished the match with bowling figures of 0–37 off 5.3 overs, before going off the pitch with cramps. During this early stretch in his career, many were displeased by Irfan's performance. This was mainly due to his speed in the debut series against England; it underwhelmed many as it only showed 130–135 km/h on the velocity radar. To make matters worse, England had won the match by 24 runs. Irfan was dropped after the series and was not brought back until the India series on 25 December 2012.[23]

Irfan made his Twenty20 International debut against India in the first Twenty20 International match on 25 December 2012 when the Pakistani team was touring India. Irfan was seen as a prominent figure in the series win against India as he emerged as the wild card that propelled Pakistan to victory. In this series he displayed marked improvement as his bowling speeds reached 145 km/h, rising from the 135 km/h he had over two years ago. At 7`1 and bowling at brisk pace, Irfan brings a new dimension to the Pakistan bowling attack. In a 2020 interview Irfan says how Virat Kohli was himself surprised, waiting for him to operate in the 130-135 kph mark as told by his staff but Irfan eventually hitting speeds closer to 150 km/h.[24]

The emergence

Irfan's improvement did not go unnoticed, as the Pakistan selectors touted him "the surprise package" in South Africa in March 2013. Irfan did not disappoint as he consistently troubled the South African batsmen with his pace and height. Irfan finished the first innings with 3 wickets and 1 maiden in 21 overs, conceding 86 runs with an economy rate of 4.09. In the second innings Irfan was unable to take a wicket, returning figures of 0-35 off 10 overs.[25]

2017 suspension

Irfan was suspended from all forms of cricket on 29 March 2017 by the PCB for failing to report two approaches to corrupt the game during the 2017 Pakistan Super League. The suspension was backdated to 14 March 2017, the day that he was initially provisionally suspended. In addition, Irfan was fined PKR 1 million. Irfan can have his suspension lifted after six months if he assists the PCB in its ongoing investigations and doesn't breach the anti corruption code during that time.[26]

References

  1. [1]
    "At 6 ft 10 inch, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan is tallest player in history of cricket". The Indian Express. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  2. [2]
    Subbaiah, Sunil (27 December 2012). "Mohammad Irfan, Pakistan's towering fire". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. [3]
    Russell, Bill (8 March 2013). "Top 16 Tallest Cricketers in Cricket History". Sporteology.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  4. [4]
    "Pakistan's 'short man' Mohammad Irfan aims high". 19 January 2013. He was born a farmer's son in the small village of Gaggu Mandi in the central Punjab province, where he found his height hard to cope with, even as one of five brothers all over six feet tall [...] His father, himself 6'9", advised him to be patient.
  5. [5]
    Hopps, David (9 September 2010). "Pakistan hope Mohammad Irfan can salvage a tour blighted by cynicism". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2022. Irfan has been presented as a feelgood story to counter an era of cynicism. A year ago he was working in a plastic pipe factory.
  6. [6]
    "Group A: Khan Research Laboratories v Pakistan International Airlines at Karachi, 10-13 October 2009". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Mohammad Irfan: Pakistan's 7 foot tall pace sensation". Dawn. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Irfan 11 wicket haul". Dawn. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. [9]
    PakPassion.net (22 February 2011). "Mohammad Irfan Interview". Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2011 – via YouTube.
  10. [10]
    "Pakistan's Mohammad Irfan in line for IPL contract". ESPNcricinfo. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. [11]
    Farooq, Umar (10 August 2010). "Mohammad Irfan signs IPL contract". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  12. [12]
    "Kolkata Knight Riders sign giant Pakistani fast bowler". sify.com. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Irfan agrees to KKR deal". espnstar.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  14. [14]
    "Mohammad Irfan awaits NOC from Pakistan board". ESPNcricinfo. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  15. [15]
    "Global T20 Canada: Complete Squads". SportsKeeda. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  16. [16]
    "Global T20 Canada League – Full Squads announced". CricTracker. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  17. [17]
    "Global T20 Canada 2018, Edmonton Royals: Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  18. [18]
    "4-3-1-2 – Mohammad Irfan bowls incredible spell". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  19. [19]
    "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  20. [20]
    "Full players list of the teams following Players Draft of BPL T20 2018-19". Bangladesh Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  21. [21]
    "BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  22. [22]
    "Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews miss out on LPL drafts". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  23. [23]
    Abdullah Rahee (10 September 2010). "Muhammad Irfan first over in international cricket". Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2013 – via YouTube.
  24. [24]
    "Virat Kohli was told that I bowl at 130-135 kph but he was surprised by my pace: Mohammad Irfan". India Today. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  25. [25]
    "Tour of South Africa". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  26. [26]
    Farooq, Umar (29 March 2017). "Irfan banned for one year for failing to report approach". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
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