Karachi:
Pakistan paceman Mohammad Irfan has said that the tour to India last winter helped him revive his international career and become a better bowler.
Irfan, who was sidelined for 18 months after making his Pakistan debut in England in 2010 in a solitary one-day match, made a comeback on the tour to India in December.
"The Indian tour was a great learning curve for me. Bowling to quality batsmen and before full crowds. It helped me become a more confident person and bowler," Irfan said after returning home from the West Indies.
The nearly 7 feet tall left-arm pacer said that he had not looked back since the Indian tour.
"For someone starting afresh, a tour to India can be a make or break one. For me fortunately it was a good tour and I have not looked back since."
Irfan said he feels comfortable bowling to any batsmen. "After the Indian and South African tours I think I also became a more lethal bowler because of the 10-days I spent in the Wasim Akram camp in Karachi. He taught me there how to bowl the inswing and once as a left arm pacer you learn to swing the ball both ways it is easier to pick up wickets.
"I have pace and bounce but with the ability to swing the ball both ways I am always sure I can get wickets with the new ball no matter who the batsman is," he said.
The tall and lanky bowler whose fitness remains a source of debate even now said he was aware that he needed to work hard on his fitness more than other players.
"But I don't think it is a serious issue now I am spending lot of time on my fitness and my diet. Most importantly I now have the right size shoes when I bowl so that also means I face no fitness problems while bowling."
Irfan, who has left a big impact in his appearances in two Tests, 19 ODIs and four T20 matches so far, said he wanted to represent Pakistan consistency for another four to five years.
"I listen to what my coaches say and I know that with the amount of cricket being played these days I need to plan my schedule properly and my international commitments accordingly," he said.
He also spoke about his experiences after being sidelined after his lone appearance in England in 2010.
"I never thought I'd be able to play again for Pakistan. People who I thought were close to me left me in that troubled period and that is where I got to know life," he said.
