Irfan Pathan
1984-10-27 | Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Irfan Pathan is a former Indian cricketer and actor. He was bowling all-rounder and a member of the Indian cricket team that won the inaugural 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup and also a member Indian cricket team that won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy[1] Beginning his career as a fast-medium swing and seam bowler, Pathan broke into the national team soon after turning 19 and evoked comparisons with Pakistan's Wasim Akram with his promising performances and prodigious swing. In early 2006, Pathan became the only bowler to take a Test hat-trick in the first over of the match[2] (vs Pakistan at Karachi). However, the productive run did not last and after the start of 2006, Pathan began to steadily lose pace and swing, and his wicket-taking dwindled. Although Pathan's batting continued to be productive, he was not regarded as a specialist and was dropped from the team in both Tests and ODIs by the end of 2006, and by 2007 was no longer in the squad until his return in 2007 World Twenty20
