Reports: Umran Malik set to be included in India’s squad for the T20 series against South Africa in June
Umran Malik (Image Credit : BCCI/IPL)
According to the reports, Hyderabad pacer Umran Malik could be considered for the T20I series against South Africa in June this year. Malik has been the talk of the town since he made his debut in the Indian T20 League. During the UAE leg of the 2021 season, he was drafted into the team to replace T. Natarajan, who tested positive for COVID19 and then got injured.
During that period, the right-arm pacer impressed the cricket fraternity with his tearaway bowling. After the conclusion of the tournament, the Jammu and Kashmir player was selected as the net bowler in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup last October. Thereafter, the 22-year-old was part of the India A side for the tour of South Africa.
Ahead of the Indian T20 League player auction, he was retained by the Hyderabad team. In the ongoing season of the cash-rich league, he has nine wickets in six games, including the four-wicket haul against Punjab last weekend. In that game, he bowled a three-wicket maiden in the last over of the innings.
Meanwhile, according to the reports, the pacer is on the radar for the selection in the Indian Team head of the upcoming T20 series against South Africa in June. Talking about Malik’s career, he has played 14 T20s, including the biggest T20 League and domestic cricket for his state team.
“Anyone who can bowl as fast as Umran Malik is bowling is a special talent. Everyone is impressed with his pace. He will surely be on selector’s radar,” claimed the source.
After the conclusion of the 15th season, India will host South Africa for the five-match T20I series at home. The series will start on June 9 in Chennai. The next four games will be played on June 12, 14, 17, and 19 and the venues will be Bangalore, Nagpur, Rajkot and Delhi respectively.
