Munaf Patel: A question of respect

Munaf Patel, not picked in the Twenty20 side and dropped from the one-day team, is hurt by the constant questioning of his fitness and lack of intensity. He asks why others are being asked questions about him when he is in the best position to answer them. Ajay S Shankar interviews him in the Sunday Express:

My family, my parents, two sisters, we used to survive on Rs 1000 a month. And for people like me, there are only two ways to reach there — Bollywood or cricket. But after earning a lot of money, you feel a bit numb about it, inside. That’s when you realise that what’s really important is your izzat, the respect. You don’t get that with money, any amount of money. Cricket has given me the money, and the respect. But now, with all this talk of lack of fitness and intensity, it’s a question of my izzat. And that’s really hurting.”

On being asked about his injuries and dip in form, Munaf turns defensive:

... 17 months since debut, goals? “Shall I say 500 wickets? It will be good for your headline. I am just trying to work hard, leave me alone.” Seven Tests, 25 wickets, but only one Test this year, comeback? “Dekho, if you perform, take wickets, nobody can stop you.” Fourteen ODIs in the first six months, just 11 games in the last 10 months, McGrath action? “Woh sab mera problem hai. This is not your problem.”