Rediff
New Delhi, May 26: Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath on Friday termed Irfan Pathan's decline as a major concern for Indian cricket and said the additional batting responsibility thrust on him was one of the reasons for it.
"Personally, it is very disappointing the way he has fallen off. I thought he was one of the good finds we had in recent years," Srinath, who is in Delhi on a promotional visit, said.
Pathan was frequently asked to bat at the crucial number three slot when Greg Chappell was the coach.
Srinath said that was one of the reasons for Pathan disappearing as India's pace spearhead.
"The commitment to bowling has to be 100 percent, nothing less," said the 37-year-old former cricketer, now an ICC Match Referee.
"You can't take solace from the fact that you have scored some runs. And he himself has said that batting is only a bonus.
"The promise he has shown and the way he has fallen off is not acceptable. It is a worry for Indian cricket."
Pathan was touted as the next all-rounder in the making following his significant success with the bat during the 2005-06 season.
But his rise as a batsman coincided with a dip in his bowling form and the 22-year-old from Baroda found himself out of the Indian team frequently in both ODIs and Tests.
Pathan was sent home midway through the tour of South Africa last year and although he returned to the one-day side for the World Cup, he did not play in any of the three first round matches in the Caribbean.
When the heads rolled following the World Cup debacle, Pathan's omission came as no surprise.
Srinath, who played in 67 Tests and picked 236 wickets, predicted a "tough" time ahead for the left-arm pacer as he tries to make a comeback.
"It is going to take more time to get back into the side. Now he has to compete with other youngsters.
"Once the tag of senior bowler wears away, it is not good, especially for a fast bowler."
T A Sekhar, another former Test bowler and now head coach at the MRF Pace Foundation, had words of encouragement for Pathan though.
"To me, talent never dies. Pathan can be repolished. It is easy to resurrect him. It is not rocket science," he said.