Yusuf Pathan off to Nairobi for a stint with Stray Lions Cricket Club

Team India lost to West Indies in the recently concluded 2-match T20 international series in the United States. The second match of the series was washed off after Indian lost the first to West Indies by 1 run.

Despite having control over the chase of 245, they lost the plot in the final over of the match as the Indian skipper failed to take them home. No one can question Dhoni for that since cricket is a game of uncertainties and on any given day Darren Bravo is one of the best death bowlers. Few experts reckon that India might be lacking a hard-hitting batsman like Yusuf Pathan, who has been in a great touch in the domestic season as well as in the IPL.

However, he will soon be heading to Nairobi, Kenya for a stint with Stray Lions Cricket Club. “In order to be match-fit, I will be in Kenya, playing for a couple of weeks. I have got clearance from the BCCI. I am eagerly looking forward to my first appearance in the League,” Yusuf, who will board Kenya-bound flight tonight, was quoted by mid-day.

The DPL:

Yusuf Pathan featured for Abahani Limited in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) in Bangladesh. He was able to play just 2 matches with the Dhaka-based club, as the holy month of ‘Ramzan’ started soon and had to return back home.

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His first game in the DPL 2016 was against the Prime Banks team and Yusuf helped his side chase down 241 and register the third consecutive win in the tournament. He smashed a 47-ball 60 in the match as he hammered the opposition bowlers for seven fours and two sixes.

“That knock gave double delight as the win helped the team to advance in the competition. In the second match, I scored 20-odd and had to return as Ramzan was starting,” he said.

A mature Yusuf:

He played a matured role for the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL this year, scoring 361 runs at a whopping average of 72.20 while he scored his runs with a strike-rate of over 145. He paced his knocks and took the responsibility which ensured he was always amongst runs.

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He looked fitter, was swift on the field and a lot more agile. Yusuf said that the KKR trainer Adrian Le Roux helped him with the fitness regime. “After coming in contact with Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) trainer Adrian Le Roux, my fitness regime has changed for the better. “I follow his schedule religiously and it helped me have a good IPL 2016 during which experts talked about my fitness and agility along with my performance,” remarked Yusuf.

The 33-year old who played his last match in Indian colors in 2012 in the South Africa tour said that veteran cricketers are a source of inspiration for him. “Mike Hussey (41) and Brad Hogg (45), my KKR teammate, are fine examples. Hogg played his last T20 International at the age of 43. Recently, two Pakistani batsmen — Younis Khan (38) and Misbah-ul-Haq (42) — scored brilliant Test centuries, so age is not a barrier. I still have seven years to reach 40,” he concluded.