Irfan Pathan reminisces about his Karachi hat-trick; says World T20 win changed world cricket

Irfan Pathan picked a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match, becoming the first bowler to do so.

Irfan Pathan’s swing bowling was legendary and one of the best displays of that came when India toured Pakistan in 2006.

The left-armer from Baroda became the only bowler to pick a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match during the Karachi match as he removed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf on the last three balls of the over. He became only the second Indian to take a Test hat-trick and it is something remembered by every Indian fan.

Talking about the same, Pathan mentioned,” It was very special as well. I haven’t talked about it as many people have spoken about my Test hat-trick (Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf). Conditions were good to bowl and taking three wickets in three balls in the first over of a Test, this memory will be with me forever.”

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“I had dreamed about getting a hat-trick for India. Before the Karachi Test hat-trick, I had come very close to getting a hat-trick twice in ODIs, but could not. I never imagined that I could take a hat-trick in the very first over of a Test match,” he added.

Irfan also starred in India’s first-ever T20 World Cup win in 2007, when they beat Pakistan in a nail-biting final in Jo-Burg, South Africa. Pathan won the Man of the Match in the finals for picking three wickets.

Remembering the good time, Pathan said,” To be honest, World T20 2007 changed world cricket. After we won the trophy, T20 cricket actually entered India. Then, the very next year 2008, IPL was launched. Because we won the World Cup, IPL started. After India triumphed in South Africa, people in India started accepting T20 cricket. Now, IPL has changed world cricket. In a way, winning the World T20 has helped change Indian cricket.”

(asianetnews.com inputs)