JEDDAH: Well-known Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is confident of making a comeback and returning to the national team.

Speaking to Arab News in an interview on Thursday, the fair, tall, handsome and stylish sportsman, who brought many laurels to his country with his fast bowling and agile fielding, was extremely relaxed and focused.

His fans were disappointed that he was not chosen for Asia Cup and World T20 and some feel his age may be an impediment to his comeback. However, he, himself, does not share those feelings. “Ashish Nehra has found a place in the Asia Cup squad at the age of 36,” he said. “I am only 31.”

Irfan repeatedly alluded to his Pathan heritage so as to drive home the point about his grit and determination to overcome life’s odds. “I am a Pathan, and Pathans are warriors. They don’t give up easily.”

The famous cricketer is in the Kingdom to promote an event that was organized in Riyadh on Friday by MoneyGram, the official money transfer partner for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016.

Following are the excerpts from the interview:

Q: What is the event that you have come here to promote?

A: MoneyGram has brought the ICC World Twenty20 trophy to Saudi Arabia. Their idea is to connect people. This trophy is being presented to the public in Riyadh for fans to take a look at it, to take pictures with it, and also to touch it. They asked me to be here for the event and I readily agreed because I now have a connection with Saudi Arabia, especially Jeddah. (He is referring to his recent marriage to a Jeddah resident). I was more than happy to do this event.

Q: Is this thing about bringing the trophy and people getting excited by it really a big deal?

A: For cricket enthusiasts, it is a big thing. You have to look at it from the perspective of a fan. Only then will you understand its importance. Why do so many nations compete? Why is it a matter of life and death for cricket players? Simply because everybody wants to win the top prize — the trophy. Let me give you an example. When we became T20 champions in 2007, we returned from South Africa to Mumbai airport with the glittering trophy. We were told that there was going to be a grand welcome at the airport and that we would be taken in an open-top bus to Wankhede Stadium where a big program was organized to celebrate the victory. When we landed in Mumbai, we were overwhelmed by the size of the welcome. The journey from the airport to the stadium normally takes an hour. Ours took six hours; you can Google the photos. There were massive crowds of excited people on both sides of the road. There were women and children and elderly people waving at us from balconies. Mumbai, the business hub of India, seemed to have come to a standstill that day. Such is the attachment of sports lovers to the game. That is when I realized the importance of the trophy.

Q: You did very well in the recent Mushtaq Ali Trophy and your outstanding performance was widely praised in the Indian media. Many people were expecting you to be included in the One-Day and T20 teams. That did not happen. Your fans, whose numbers are legion, were disappointed. Surely you were disappointed too, weren’t you?

A: It is an honor for everybody to play for his country again and again. My aim is no different. I want to play for my country again. I want to bring glory to my country. There is no greater thrill than to play for your country. It causes your adrenaline to rush and gives you a powerful feeling. It is a blessing. Having said that, in this particular season my only aim was to focus on the game…

Q: … without thinking about being selected for the team?

A: To say that I was completely oblivious of the selection would not be right. What I am saying is that I just wanted to let my ball and bat do the talking. Throughout the season, I stuck to that plan. If there is something written in my destiny, then I will get it. If not today, tomorrow. This is what I believe in, and this is my conviction. I will continue to focus on my game. If I had not had this positive attitude, then I would not have done well in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy that you just talked about. I took 200 wickets in that tournament. I thank Allah for providing me the strength to do well. I did well in Ranji Trophy as well. I will build on this excellent performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) that begins in April. I am playing for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants. I am feeling confident about my game. MashaAllah. As a player, my job is to focus on the game and leave the rest to destiny. That which has to happen, will happen.

Q: That is a very positive attitude....

A: I have been this way. I have always tried to look for positive aspects during times of crises. I am a Pathan and I belong to the Pathan clan. They are known for their heroism and warrior attitude. They never give up. In my cricketing career, I have experienced many ups and down and I have emerged victorious.

Q: Are you saying that you have gone through situations tougher than what you find yourself in today?

A: Yes. Before we won the T20 Championship in 2007, I was not in the team. Then I came back and won the Man of the Match award in the final against Pakistan. That championship was my comeback moment. Alhamdulillah.

Q: Tell us a little about your family.

A: We are a joint family. My father, my mother, my famous cricketing brother Yusuf, a younger sister, my wife and my brother’s wife — we all live in the same house in Baroda, Gujarat. You all know that we are from a humble background. My father was a muezzin in Baroda’s Jama Masjid. Besides being a muezzin, my father used to work in a factory. He took pride in the fact that he was a muezzin. Despite the obvious challenges, our father never allowed us to feel the pinch of financial difficulties. He never made us feel the pain that he went through. He always had a smile on his face. I come from a family that has seen all sides of life. From what we were to where we are now, we have always been happy in all circumstances. By the way, my father still serves in whatever way he can at the mosque. He is not a muezzin anymore but he does his “khidmat” and we still retain our old house near the mosque.

Q: Tell us about your relationship with your elder brother Yusuf? We see a lot of warmth between the two of you on Twitter.

A: We started cricket together. We played cricket together. He is older but there is not a big age difference between us. We learned, and still learn, a lot from each other. We are like friends. We have a lot of love and respect for each other. As I said, our families live together in the same house. We grew up laughing together. Like all brothers, we fought together. We are more than just blood brothers. We have our little skirmishes as well just as between two fast friends. We lean on each other, and we shield each other like a rock. Our parents raised us well. They kept us rooted in our traditions.

Q: Who, according to your mother, is the most stubborn of you two?

A: “Dekho, agar Pathan ziddi nahi hoga to phir wo Pathan nahi hoga.” (If a Pathan is not stubborn, then he is not a real Pathan.) My brother is quieter. If he were doing this interview, he would have finished a while ago. He wouldn’t be doing this much talking. I am talkative. I speak my mind. I pull people’s legs. I am a little naughty, mischievous. Yusuf Bhai is more sober.

Q: You are past 30 and for you to think about making a comeback into the Indian national team must be a worry?

A: I am 31 and Ashish Nehra has just made a comeback. He is 36.

Q: There is a precedent then?

A: I will not add anything further to that.

Q: What do you think are India’s chances in the ongoing Asia Cup and the ICC Twenty20 World Cup?

A: The team is playing very well. MashaAllah. Recently we won the series 3-0 in Australia. It is a big deal to beat Australia. We defeated Sri Lanka too. I am sure that the team will continue this excellent performance in the World Cup and Asia Cup. I am very optimistic about our team’s chances. My prayers are always with Team India.

Q: Can you tell us briefly about your highs and lows?

A: Getting the Man of the Match in the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan where I took three wickets. Getting the Man of the Match against Australia in Perth in 2008. Making a comeback in the Indian One-Day team in 2012, at a time when no one believed I could make a comeback.

Q: This is the question that everybody wants to ask you since you are now married to a Jeddah girl. How does it feel being a son-in-law of Jeddah and would you mind talking about your wife and how and under what circumstances did you meet Safa Baig for the first time?

A: Jeddah is a special city because it is the gateway to Makkah. I will keep coming here for Umrah and also for Haj. Now there is an additional reason. “Ek aur rishta bana hai ke Jeddah ab hamara sasural bhi hai.” This is the city of my in-laws. As to your query about the circumstances under which I met my wife, I will not reveal the details. That is personal and private. I would only say that I am very happy and she is too. I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from my fans. I would only request them to pray for my comeback in the team.