India’s cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar extended his birthday wishes to former all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who turned 39 on Friday, with a Bollywood-inspired message.
Tendulkar took to social media to wish his former teammate Pathan in a unique style, combining his name with Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster movie ‘Pathaan,’ and wrote, ‘Happy birthday, Irfan.
Maze karo aur jhoomte raho kyunki jhoomein jo ‘Pathan’…mehfil hi lut jaaye!’ Along with Sachin, Mohammad Kaif also sent love and best wishes: ‘Happy birthday, Pathan Saab. Stay happy and stay blessed.
Lots of love.’ Pathan has remained in the limelight even after his retirement, thanks to his work as a renowned commentator. He recently caught the eye of spectators after dancing with star spinner Rashid Khan to celebrate Afghanistan’s victory over Pakistan in the ongoing World Cup.
The left-arm all-rounder made a memorable debut in 2004, leaving Australia opener Adam Gilchrist bamboozled with an absolute ripper. His inswinging yorker raised questions that Gilchrist had no answers to.
His career is filled with iconic moments, including a match-winning knock with his brother Yusuf Pathan in 2009 during a one-off T20I against Sri Lanka. In 2006, against Pakistan, Pathan not only became the first Indian pacer to claim a Test match hat-trick but also the first bowler ever to do so in the opening over of a Test match.
Pathan featured in 29 Test matches for India, amassing 1,105 runs at an average of 31.57, with one century and six fifties to his name. He also claimed 100 wickets in the format, making him the second Indian bowler with a Test hat-trick. In 120 ODI matches, Pathan scored 1,544 runs at an average of 23.39 and notched up five half-centuries, with a highest score of 83. He also secured 173 wickets in the 50-over format.”*
