Baroda coach Ashok Mankad on Tuesday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket India's decision to send back Irfan Pathan midway through the tour of South Africa.

"Pathan obviously seems hurt after being sent back from South Africa in the middle of a tour. In fact, I am also hurt at this treatment as the coach of the Baroda team and as an Indian cricket lover," Mankad told rediff.com.

- Pathan has lacklustre outing

The 22-year-old left-armer was asked to return during the second Test in Durban and work on his bowling in domestic cricket, the first time an Indian cricketer has suffered such humiliation.

Pathan's bowling seems to have taken a huge dip in the last year or so and it was quite natural that the team management lost patience with him. But Mankad feels it is just a temporary phase and the team should have persisted with the Baroda pacer rather than send him back just for one domestic match.

"This is not the way he should have been treated. He is one of the leading all-rounders and one must remember that he was named as one of the world's most promising cricketers. So this is not the way to treat him. Just for one week or a game you don't send a talented cricketer back in the middle of a tour," said Mankad, who played 22 Tests for India.

But Mankad noted that Pathan has not let the disappointment affect him.

"To be frank, he seemed quite relaxed in the dressing room on his first day in domestic cricket after a long time. He looks determined and he now wants to prove a point because obviously he is hurt," said the 60-year-old.

He also praised the left-armer's bowling in the match against Uttar Pradesh, even though Pathan returned figures of 2 for 108 in his 22 overs.

"Pathan worked really hard today. He got two wickets on a pitch that was really not suitable for fast bowlers. The wicket was too slow and he could not extract much bounce. Hopefully, he will get a few more wickets in the second innings," said Mankad.

Mankad believes it is a temporary phase in Pathan's career.

"I don't think there is anything to be worried about. I feel it's just a question of confidence and I am sure very soon he will get his confidence and will be a force to reckon with," he added.

He also said whatever happens he must be in India's team for the 2007 World Cup, to be held in March-April in the West Indies.

"I am sure he will get back into the team for the World Cup. He is an excellent one-day cricketer and can contribute to the team in more than one way. So he must definitely be included," said Mankad.

Experts believe that the real downslide in Pathan's bowling started when he was promoted up the batting order in one-dayers. But Mankad feels there is no harm if Pathan also works on his batting.

"There is no harm if he concentrates on his batting as I feel he is a good all-rounder. Even Greg Chappell realised his batting potential and sent him at number three in few matches. And it would also benefit the Indian team if he does well as a batter. So I would definitely like to see him to become a better batsman."