Irfan Pathan's letter to fans after IPL 2017 snub will leave you teary-eyed

Irfan Pathan's letter to fans after IPL 2017 snub will make you teary-eyed

West Zone pacer Irfan Pathan celebrates after dismissing North Zone opener Shikhar Dhawan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Inter-Zonal Twenty20 cricket tournament. Pathan took 3-10. Pic/SURESH KARKERA

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Players Auction in Bangalore on Monday threw up a big surprise when former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan remained unsold. This despite his base price being Rs 50 lakhs and the auctioneer pulling out the Baroda lad's name twice. But no franchise showed any interest.

Irfan, who was with the Rising Pune Supergiants in the previous edition, has been in fine form off late.

The former India all-rounder and his wife Safa Baig become proud parents to a baby boy on December 20, 2016.

The 32-year-old cricketer missed a majority of the last domestic season due to injuries. But he performed admirably in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali in which he picked up five wickets in four games with an economy rate of 6.28. His best show against North Zone saw him take the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, and Yuvraj Singh. He had figures of 3/10 from his 4 overs. He has also lead Baroda in the Zonal T20 tournament and was the only Baroda cricketer along with Deepak Hooda to be picked in the West Zone XI.

Irfan has been short-changed in the previous IPL editions as well. He was on the Chennai Super Kings bench for the entire 2015 season and got 4 matches for the Pune Rising Supergiants (Supergiant now).

Irfan Pathan

Irfan responded to the IPL Auction snub and the resultant outpouring of support for him on Twitter by sharing an emotional message with his fans on the micro blogging site that will sure to leave you teary-eyed.

He posted, "In 2010, I had undergone 5 fractures in my back. The physio had told to me that I might now be able to play cricket ever again and should rather give up on my dream. At that point of time I told him, I can bear any pain but cannot the bear the pain of not playing this beautiful game for my country."

Promising to fight back and to not give up on his career, he said, "I worked hard and not only played cricket again but made a come back to the India team. I have faced many obstacles in my career and life but never gave up, that's the character I have and will possess."

HERE'S HIS POST:

THIS IS HOW PEOPLE REACTED TO HIS LETTER:

THIS IS HOW HIS FANS REACTED TO HIS SNUB: