‘Good that Umran Malik isn’t picked for 20-20 World Cup’- Irfan Pathan draws light on Umran Malik’s omission
The omission of Umran Malik was one of the talking points in the cricketing circle after India’s squad announcement for the 20-20 World Cup 2022. The cricket pundits believed that Umran Malik would be an X-factor if he was selected in the Indian squad for the 20-20 World Cup in 2022.
Umran Malik, the young Indian pace sensation was the find for the Hyderabad side in 2021 Indian T20 League edition. Hyderabad had a dismal season but they had unearthed a gem for India. Umran Malik is someone who can bowl at rapid pace.
He played 3 games in the UAE at the 2021 edition in the Indian T20 League and became the talk of the town due to his fiery pace. He then he had a full season in the Indian T20 League under the tutelage of Dale Steyn where he picked up 22 wickets in 14 games and showed the world what he is capable of.
While many believed that Malik should have been in the World Cup squad, Irfan Pathan, the former India player, said that he was okay with Umran Malik’s exclusion. Irfan Pathan saw Umran Malik, the young pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, when he did a stint with the Jammu and Kashmir’s side as a coach in Indian domestic cricket.
“It is good that he has not been picked for the World Cup. He has to be groomed; he’s quite inexperienced. Let him learn while playing for India ‘A’ and then gradually mature. His time will come,” Pathan told mid-day recently in an interaction.
Pace is Umran Malik’s forte but he could not make it count in the limited opportunities that he got on the international stage when he played against England and Ireland.
Irfan Pathan also gave his views on the Indian Squad for the 20-20 World Cup. Pathan believes that there is no use of criticizing the selection of the team as the team has already been finalized for the 20-20 World Cup 2022.
