Asia Cup 2022 | Ex-Pak pacer believes India missed a trick by dropping Umran Malik
Umran Malik with teammates
Former Pakistan pacer and seasoned T20 coach Aaqib Javed believes India missed a trick by dropping Umran Malik from their Asia Cup 2022 squad.
The Indian cricket team is currently in the UAE for the much-awaited Asia Cup 2022 tournament. Notably, the Rohit Sharma drawcards are without the presence of two of their most senior speedsters, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Asia Cup 2022: “I was really impressed when I saw Umran”, says Javed
Umran Malik made his Team India debut this year following a prolific IPL season with the ball for Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, the speedster was wayward with line and length in the three T20Is he played across England and Ireland.
Conceding an economy of 12.44, the 22-year-old only managed to record two wickets in his three outings. He was subsequently dropped from India’s tour to Zimbabwe as well as its following assignment, Asia Cup 2022.
According to Pakistan’s Aaqib Javed, Team India should have stuck with the pacer because of his ability to hurl 150 kmph thunderbolts in the middle.
Moreover, he also believes that the Indian team should have given Malik a rope till the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia. According to the former cricketer, the youngster’s pace could have created a “serious fast bowling attack” with Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Javed said:
“I think they missed a trick there. They could have developed him by giving him more chances before the World Cup. I was really impressed when I saw Umran bowling for the first time. He bowled at 155 kmph and landed in the right areas. What more do you want?”
“Especially when you’re going to Australia, where you get that extra zip and something on the seam front as well. It would have created a serious fast bowling attack with him, Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar.”
India’s road to Asia Cup 2022
Team India will launch their Asia Cup title-defence with a match against arch-rivals Pakistan on August 28. The ‘Men in Blue’ have already landed in the UAE and have commenced their training regime.
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