In an old interview with SportsTak, Irfan Pathan said he was fired by the team of India when he refused to install a hookah to an unnamed cricketer. Although the former all-rounder did not mention anyone in particular, his followers concluded that it was about former India captain MS Dhoni.
The video quickly gained a lot of popularity and generated enough attention that old images, recordings, and interviews relating to Dhoni’s love of hookah reappeared online. Pathan, however, spoke up and addressed the issue in a social media post. He accused some of the supporters of misrepresenting the meaning of what he had said.
“Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the Statement. Fan war? PR lobby?” Pathan wrote in his official ‘X’ (previously Twitter) handle on Wednesday, September 3.
The former all-rounder did discuss his 2008 chat with then-captain Dhoni in the first segment of the SportsTak video. According to Pathan, he learned that the wicketkeeper-batter wasn’t pleased with his bowling from the news. Nevertheless, he dismissed any such idea when he asked Dhoni about it.
“I asked him (MS Dhoni) once during Australia series when a statement from Mahi came that Irfan Pathan is not bowling well. As twisting comments sometimes happen on media, I asked him how I can improve myself, but Mahi said, ‘Everything is going fine Irfan, nothing is wrong. But those same things kept on happening and I couldn’t ask for the same explanation. Because the Pathans love their dignity. Dekhiye, humse naa to room me jaa ke kisi ke liye Hookah set kaarne ki aadat hain (Look, I don’t have the habit to go to someone’s room and set up Hookah).”
Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan has had an exciting commentary career since retiring from international cricket in January 2020. The IPL 2025 commentary panel did not include the former Baroda cricket player. This came when broadcasters became increasingly displeased with him for interjecting personal grievances into his comments. But for the five-match Test series between India and England, he returned to the Hindi coverage of Sony Sports Network.
The 2025 Asia Cup, which takes place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to September 28, will be Pathan’s next commentary assignment. Being on the same commentary team as Ahmad Farhad, who will be the first Afghan to commentate in a major multi-nation competition, will make him a part of history. Sony’s broadcast of the eight-nation event features both of them.
