World’s tallest player itching to make a mark

Sep 08, 2010 |

Correspondent

Pune, Sept. 7: Some measure him at 6’8”, while others put him at over 7 foot, but there’s no doubting the fact that Mohammad Irfan is easily one of the tallest bowlers to ever grace the game.

Pakistan’s 29-year-old left-arm seamer, called into the side along with batsman Asad Shafiq as replacements for the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif for the ODI series against England, is a good half-a-foot taller than England fast bowler Stuart Broad (6ft 5 in) who was thought to be tallest of the current lot.

Irfan said he wasn’t expecting to be part of the Pakistan national team so soon. “It’s not the best circumstances to get a place in side, with all these spot-fixing allegations. But I’ll do my best,” Irfan said before leaving from Colombo, where he was part of the Pakistan A side currently touring Sri Lanka.

The gangly lad is also eager for International Cricket Council to confirm his height. “My height doesn’t vary, but still people are not able to measure it properly. Hope the confusion can end now.” Irfan shot to prominence after an impressive debut season in domestic cricket. He’s now been picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The previous tallest international cricketers were West Indies pacer Joel Garner and Australia’s Bruce Reid, both measuring 6’8”.

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