DURBAN  - Allan Donald, the South African bowling coach, is extremely impressed by M Irfan, the tall fast bowler from Pakistan, and said that the Green Shirts should use him carefully, saving his energies for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which is going to be played in Australia and New Zealand jointly.
The cricketer from Gaggu Mandi made his international debut in 2010 during the tour of England; however, the lanky pacer failed to make an impression at the ultimate stage of the game. The 30-year-old cricketer kept working hard in domestic cricket, making his way back to the international sport during the tour of India earlier this year.
Irfan helped Pakistan win the ODI series against the Men in Blue and also impressed one and all during the recent tour of South Africa, picking up 11 wickets in just four matches to end up as the highest wicket-taker of the series.
Donald, who himself is considered to be one of the finest fast bowlers of the modern-day sport, feels that Irfan should be played only in important Test matches. The Proteas’ bowling coach is of the opinion that the lanky speedster can play an important role for Pakistan in the next World Cup. He Said: “I wouldn’t play him in every Test but I would make sure to look after him for the World Cup in 2015.”
The former great is also impressed by Irfan’s attitude on the pitch and said that the 30-year-old cricketer will continue to improve with the passage of time. “He is definitely not shy to get down the pitch and into the impact area, so it looks like he wants to get involved,” Donald said. “But he doesn’t come across as a spit-and-blood kind of guy. He seems to be quite placid, and as he plays more Tests he will learn when to get more in batsmen’s faces and when to try and provoke some sort of reaction.”
Pakistan’s next major assignment in international cricket is the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, which is going to be played in England in June. Prior to that, the Green Shirts will play a couple of ODIs against Ireland and Scotland each.