Munaf returns for yet another test

Even the news that he’s back in the Indian squad for the forthcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka doesn’t excite him much — the Ikhar lad has been in and out of the team so often, it seems he’s become blasé about it.

“After the IPL, I expected to be there (in the national team),” says Munaf, who surprised critics with an impressive show in the Indian Premier League, scalping 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.63. The selectors, it seems, were not impressed and instead of accompanying the team for the Bangladesh tri-series and the Asia Cup in Pakistan, he found himself at a bowler’s camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

“When I was not picked, I thought they’d kept me as a cover for an unforeseen eventuality. But that was not to be (Manpreet Gony was drafted in after Sreesanth pulled out due to injury). Anyway, I am happy with whatever I have achieved,” he says.

“Warne is a very positive captain. He set the field as per my wishes. Snape’s contribution to the team was also huge,” Munaf says, but insists that at the end of the day, his efforts alone bore fruits. But hasn’t he been a bit too inconsistent in the past — sublime one day, and pedestrian on another? “Well, if you bowl well everyday, you will become the best,” he snaps.

Not just his performance, other factors too have gone against him. Accusations that he hides injuries did not help his cause. And the national selectors seemed to have “lost faith” in him. “People will say whatever they want to. It doesn’t make any difference to me. My job is to work hard and perform,” says Munaf, before bringing the discussion to an end by adding: “Write whatever you want to. I have no problem.”

Aloof, cold and impossible to communicate to — call him whatever, it has ceased to matter to Munaf. “Main jaisa bhi hun thik hun. Mujhe alag rehna pasand hai toh usme problem kya hai? (I am what I am. I like to remain aloof so where’s the problem?) Everyone is different, after all,” he says.