The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently disclosed India’s squads for the upcoming multi-format South Africa tour, designating Rohit Sharma as the Test captain. At the same time, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav have been named skippers for the ODI and T20I teams, respectively.
Additionally, BCCI have also revealed the India A squads for the same tour. The squad announcement brought attention to the promising young players securing spots and the conspicuous absence of pace sensation Umran Malik, eliciting concern from fans and cricket pundits.
Joining the chorus of discontent is former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who voiced his disappointment with the Indian Team management’s decision to omit Umran. Pathan’s critique contributes to the ongoing discourse, underscoring the scrutiny and varied perspectives surrounding the team selection process.
Irfan Pathan reacts on Umran Malik’s non-selection
Pathan took a dig at the Indian selectors in a recent tweet, mentioning that a player (Umran) who was part of the Indian team’s playing XI a few months ago should at least be able to secure a spot in the India A side. It is worth noting that the former all-rounder worked closely with the Jammu-based speedster during his tenure as the mentor-cum-coach of Jammu and Kashmir cricket Team.
“I’m pretty sure the guy (Umran) who was in the Indian team’s playing 11 few months back can surely find a place in India A side. #umranmalik,” Pathan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
I’m pretty sure the guy who was in the Indian team’s playing 11 few months back can surely find a place in India A side. #umranmalik
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 30, 2023
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Umran Malik’s journey with Indian Cricket Team
Despite being heralded as the next promising talent in Indian cricket, Umran’s journey in the national colours has been a roller-coaster of thrills and spills. The 26-year-old has showcased his wicket-taking ability in the ODIs, securing 13 wickets in nine matches. However, a closer look reveals a concerning trend in his performance, as the right-arm seamer has struggled to contain runs with an economy rate of 6.54. The challenges extend to the T20I domain, where Umran has demonstrated his prowess with 11 wickets in eight games. Unfortunately, his bowling economy in T20Is has been a significant cause for worry, standing at a high 10.49.
This over-expensive bowling has likely played a pivotal role in his exclusion from the Indian squad, highlighting the importance of balancing wicket-taking and economy rates in the competitive world of international cricket.
