Often ridiculed for his pace, or rather lack of it, Irfan Pathan says he is really baffled by the entire fuss for the simple reason that he has never been an express bowler in the first place.
At some stage, Irfan was virtually being ridiculed for his dipping pace and diminishing swing but the left-arm seamer believes he never was a tearaway bowler and hence all the talk about losing pace is grossly unfair.
"A lot of people talk about my swing and pace and I want to tell them that I was never a quick bowler. One must understand that even a spinner bowls slow. It's the variation which helps bowlers take wickets. I have always been a bowler who bowls at around 130-135 km/hr," Irfan told www.cricketnirvana.com.
For those who believe he is losing his swing as well, the Baroda seamer said, "I bowl first change these days and the world's greatest would agree that white ball stops swinging after the first 10-12 overs."
Mature enough to realise that he cannot avoid the constant scrutiny, Irfan said he would love his game to silence the critics.
"I believe as long as you play cricket you will be criticised. The critics will only stop when the cricketer finishes his career. One can only perform well and make them eat their words," he said.
Defending himself against constant criticism, Irfan pointed out to his kitty and said few players have achieved so much in so little time.
"At the end of the day, here is a guy called Irfan Pathan who has taken nearly 250 international wickets at the age of 23. Once I finish my career I won't be answerable," Pathan retorted.
"Initially some said that I will go on to take 300 wickets but after few failures they said I will never make it to the big league. Slowly, I am reaching 150 wickets in ODIs and I have already 100 Test scalps in my kitty. I have scored over 1000 runs in both forms of the game. I have achieved pretty much," said Irfan.
Irfan has also struggled with his all-rounder status, something he insisted he was always reluctant about.
"I think more than 1000 times (I have been asked about my all-rounder status). But it has to show in my performance.
"I will say that I am Irfan Pathan the all-rounder. I am the best. Kapil Dev, the great all-rounder became Kapil the all-rounder when he finished his career. Obviously he was a wonderful cricketer and a wonderful batsman but then people have to talk about a player when he finishes his career," he said.
"I haven't said that I am an all-rounder. I have batted at No. 3 position quite a few times and have been successful but I have never claimed to be an all-rounder. To be a really good all-rounder it will require time," Irfan added.
Dwelling on his game, Irfan said playing against Australia and Pakistan always brought out the best in him.
"I think Australia and Pakistan are the two teams which take the best out of me. I think if one is competing against them, one has to be positive. One has to be away from the fear of failure. I try to be extra positive whenever I play against them," he said.
