Yusuf Pathan included in Baroda squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Yusuf Pathan's five-month ban for failing a dope test, because of which he missed out on most of the Ranji trophy matches, came to a conclusion a couple of weeks ago. The BCCI gave out a backdated ban from August 15, 2017, to January 14, 2018, which therefore made Pathan eligible be part of the IPL auction.

Pathan was not a part of the Baroda squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which concluded last week despite having been in the probable’s list and he was told by the board of selectors that he would not be considered for future matches. However, Pathan cleared a mandatory fitness test after his name was included in the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad by the BCA on Friday. 

“The selectors included his (Yusuf) name today in the Baroda squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy. But his inclusion was subject to him clearing his fitness test,” BCA joint secretary Snehal Parikh said in an interview to The Indian Express.

When questioned as to how Pathan was brought into the squad despite not being included in the probable list, Parikh said, “It’s a selection committee decision and I’m not going to reveal what happened inside the meeting.” 

The Pathan brothers have had an uneasy relationship with the BCA in recent years. Irfan Pathan had already sought a NOC from them and is most-likely to a part of the Jammu and Kashmir squad from next season.