Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has castigated the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection panel for recalling veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the recent T20I tour of New Zealand.
Despite Shreyas Iyer’s side sealing a 3-2 series triumph, consecutive in the final two fixtures left a sombre atmosphere in the camp. Addressing the tour’s aftermath, the 2007 T20 World Cup winner argued that reintroducing the 36-year-old pacer after a four-year absence was a miscalculated strategic decision.
“From my perspective, where did the selection committee err?” Pathan questioned on his YouTube channel. “Drafting Bhuvneshwar Kumar into this squad was an error. Whilst there is no denying his caliber as an elite senior bowler, selecting him when a T20 World Cup remains distant is questionable. Had he been primed for the upcoming 50-over World Cup, the logic would hold.”
Pathan maintained that his critique was rooted in squad progression rather than the veteran’s figures on foreign soil.
“This selection ultimately denied emerging pacemen vital exposure,” he stated. “You missed out on giving opportunities to young fast bowlers. Prospects like Mayank Yadav or Prince Yadav ought to have logged matches on New Zealand soil.”
Emphasising that his stance was independent of Bhuvneshwar’s statistical output, Pathan added: “I am not offering this critique simply because Bhuvneshwar struggled to make an impact. He experienced bad fortune-bowling effectively across his opening two overs before conceding runs at the close of the powerplay. Such fluctuations occur to everyone, and his quality remains beyond doubt.”
Concluding his analysis, Pathan urged long-term foresight: “The issue centers squarely on timing. Nurturing fast bowling talent demands affording them opportunities on true surfaces, where margin for error is minimal.”