Irfan Pathan weighs in on World Cup squad selection. Among the fervor, former Indian cricketer and current commentator Irfan Pathan has shed light on a critical issue that selectors must consider: the risk of recency bias.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) comes to a close, the cricketing world is abuzz with speculation about potential World Cup squads. Among the fervour, former Indian cricketer and current commentator Irfan Pathan has shed light on a critical issue that selectors must consider: the threat of recency bias.
Pathan, speaking on the Star Sports Press Room Show “Ticket to World Cup,” emphasised the importance of selectors keeping a balanced perspective when selecting players for the World Cup squad. He drew attention to the tendency to overemphasize IPL performances, warning against automatically including players based solely on their recent IPL exploits.
“Let’s discuss the 2010s. Wriddhiman Saha was out of the team for an entire year due to injury. When he recovered, he rejoined the squad and made the Playing XI after a year. A year is a long period of time. The Indian team considered his previous contributions prior to his injury. They did not want to undervalue that; rather, they wanted to recognize it. So they decided to give him a few matches and see how he did.
“When on a selection committee, you should not overlook a player’s previous contributions for India, even before the IPL. You should never forget that, and I’m not talking about events from the distant past. This should always be taken into account,” Irfan explained.
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International cricket is a completely different beast: Irfan Pathan
In his trademark candid style, emphasised that strong IPL performances do not guarantee automatic selection, highlighting the contrast between IPL conditions and the challenges of international cricket, where top-tier bowlers such as Mitchell Starc present a different test.
“Just because some players are doing well in the IPL does not mean they should be automatically selected. Due to the small grounds and flat pitches, the IPL always has one or two uncapped bowlers who are easily smacked. However, international cricket is a completely different beast.
“You’ll have five bowlers, each of whom has played a significant number of matches prior to the World Cup, bringing a wealth of experience. You’ll be up against high-quality bowlers such as Mitchell Starc. While Starc’s IPL performance may vary, you will still face top-tier bowlers. For example, if you are from Sri Lanka, you may encounter someone like Pathirana. But you’ll also have the other four bowlers, who are excellent performers,” He said. My personal wish is Rinku Singh makes it to the T20 World Cup squad: Shah Rukh Khan
Pathan urged selectors to look beyond a player’s recent form and into their history with the national team. He cautioned against ignoring the experience and expertise of seasoned international players in favor of IPL sensations.
“Don’t overlook their contributions. While recent performances are important, remember their achievements with the Indian team prior to the IPL,” he concluded.
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