I have regained my old bowling rhythm: Irfan

India discard allrounder Irfan Pathan on Sunday said he has rediscovered his old bowling rhythm and wants to retain the form to get back into the national side.

The Baroda seamer, who has not played a one-day international match since February 2009, also admitted that he bowled badly for the last three years, but said he has improved now and got the rhythm back.

"I have got my rhythm back after half of the IPL (Indian Premier League) season this year," Pathan told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuses and Illicit Trafficking.

"This rhythm is like I had in 2004-05," Pathan, who made his debut against Australia in 2003, said.

A left-arm seamer and a handy batsman, Pathan has not featured in any ODI for India since February 2009 due to bad form and fitness related issues.

"I have bowled badly for three years, but now I have got my old rhythm back and hope to hold on to it and control it properly," said the pacer, who has 152 one-day international wickets to his name.

He said that he was waiting for an opportunity to get back into the team.

Pathan had last played a Test match in April 2008 against South Africa in Ahmedabad.