'Umran Malik can make a big name for himself with white ball' - Rashid Latif bats for pacer's inclusion in Indian team

Emerging Jammu and Kashmir pacer Umran Malik was one of the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s retained players for IPL 2022. The youngster was in the headlines last season for clocking over 150 kmph and has also been in the news this season for his sheer pace as well. The 22-year-old is yet to don the Indian jersey despite having made an impact at the domestic level apart from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has gone on to say that Malik can make a name for himself in the limited-overs format. Giving further clarification on the same, the cricketer-turned-expert said that the promising speedster must be given an opportunity at the Asia Cup T20 or the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 down under later this year.

On the bouncy pitches of Australia, Umran Malik can easily take out the Asian batters

“After the IPL, they will start preparing for the international matches again. We have an Asia Cup and then the World Cup. They will have to try him out in one of them. On the bouncy pitches of Australia, he can easily take out the Asian batters, whether they’re from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, or whoever India plays. Maybe the Aussies could play him,” Latif said on his Youtube Channel.

“He could be a very useful bowler there. Because batsmen aren’t used to facing such fast bowling nowadays. Most fast bowlers have now dropped in terms of speeds; you look at Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins… Shaheen Afridi swings the ball really well but he clocks in the range of 145 kph. Haris is there but his bouncer isn’t as effective as he is with his fuller length. In future, Umran can make a big name for himself with the white ball,” he added.

Umran Malik has so far picked up five wickets from as many matches averaging 34.60 and an economy rate of 9.61. He was one of SRH’s pick of the bowlers during their clash against KKR where he accounted for skipper Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper-batter Sheldon Jackson to finish with figures of 2/27 from his four overs.

The youngster would be gunning for more wickets when the Orange Army face Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on April 17.