Irfan Pathan proposes farewell game for retired Indian cricket legends who ‘didn’t get a proper send-off’

Irfan Pathan has come up with an exciting idea which could turn into reality if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is interested. The former all-rounder has proposed a charity match between the recently retired Indian cricket legends and the current players of Team India.

Pathan made up a playing XI of the recently retired cricketers – Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Prgayan Ojha – and suggested that they could take on the current Indian team players led by Virat Kohli in a match which could also act as a send-off for those who didn’t get a farewell game from the Indian cricket board.

Pathan also suggested that the match can be played for a good cause.

MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina were the latest in a long list of Indian cricket legends who recently announced their international retirement. Pathan had decided to quit all cricket in January this year.

“Many people are talking about a farewell game for retired players who didn’t get a proper send-off from the game. How about a charity cum farewell game from a team consisting of retired players vs the current Indian team?,” Pathan tweeted.

Many people are talking about a farewell game for retired players who didn’t get a proper send-off from the game. How about a charity cum farewell game from a team consisting of retired players vs the current Indian team? pic.twitter.com/diUiLXr9XQ

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 22, 2020

Fans and critics have been urging the BCCI to organise a farewell game for Dhoni and Raina, ever since the Chennai Super Kings duo announced their retirement from international cricket on August 15.

The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Pathan and Gautam Gambhir had also stepped away from the sport without playing farewell games.

Pathan’s idea became an instant hit on social media with even Shashi Tharoor backing the proposal.

“Fabulous idea @irfanPathan! Every one of you has been a hero for India. This would also be a great return to serious first-class cricket for the current lot, whose skills may have rusted under the #Covid20 #Lockdown,” the Congress MP replied on Pathan’s tweet.

Fabulous idea @irfanPathan! Every one of you has been a hero for India. This would also be a great return to serious first-class cricket for the current lot, whose skills may have rusted under the #Covid20 #Lockdown! https://t.co/wRsGn3oc81

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 22, 2020

A follower even questioned Pathan why he didn’t include Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in his XI to which he replied: “It’s for the players who didn’t got farewell otherwise only a fool will not have them in the squad.”

It’s for the players who didn’t got farewell otherwise only a fool will not have them in the squad

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 22, 2020

Last week Shoaib Akhtar had also requested the Indian cricket board to organise “at least one final match” for legendary captain MS Dhoni and also urged the BCCI to utilise the legendary former captain’s experience in some capacity or the other.

“I was confident that MS Dhoni will get a good farewell but that is not what he wants. Playing for India was his biggest dream which he fulfilled.

“It’s always a great time to leave when you want to, people shouldn’t push you towards retirement. India loves and respects its cricket stars, I know because I have learned that from experience.

“There might be scenario that Dhoni gets a farewell match. BCCI might ask him to play one final time to give him a send-off whenever it is possible in the current scenario because such a big player like Dhoni doesn’t deserve to go out with a small message on social media. I hope and India sends him off with a lot of respect and in times to come they use his experience in some way or the other,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.