Srinagar, April 8: While star cricketer Abdul Samad is all set to once again entertain everyone with his all-round antics in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, there are three more cricketers from J&K who will be part of the league as net bowlers.
As per a report in Daily Greater Kashmir amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across Country, there is secure bio-bubble in place for the league and the franchisees have roped in domestic cricketers as net bowlers for their teams.
The cricketers would be part of the league from start till the end in the bio-bubble.
From J&K, this time three youngsters have joined cash rich league as net bowlers. The cricketers include Mujtaba Yousuf, Umran Malik and Auqib Nabi.
The trio have already joined their respective teams and completed their mandatory quarantine period before start of the training sessions.
While among the trio, Mujtaba previously has been part of IPL as net bowler it will be first time for Auqib Nabi and Umran Malik, report said.
Mujtaba who was in reckoning to make it to main roaster of the IPL but missed in auction, is part of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) which is lead by Virat Kohli. Auqib Nabi who is emerging all-rounder and this year represented J&K in both One-Day and T20 formats, is part of Kolkatta Knight Riders. Umran Malik of Jammu who this year emerged into scene with his sheer pace for J&K is part of Sunrisers Hyderabad. It is same franchisee, for which Abdul Samad who also belong to Jammu province plays.
A former cricketer of J&K termed it good thing for J&K cricket and said it will help these bowlers in a longer run.
“It is always good thing to be around top quality players and learn from them. It is good opportunity for all these three youngsters and in longer run it is going to benefit J&K,” said former cricketer.
“It was visible this season that Mujtaba has gained lot of experience and knowledge by being part of the league last year as net year. He this season for J&K in both T20 and one-Day format was spearhead pacer. We were hoping that he will be picked by any of the IPL team in auction but that didn’t happened despite being called for trials by three teams. However, still we are happy that he will again emerge out as better bowler by being around top quality players,” he said.
The former cricketer said that while Mujtaba has been part of event previously, it will be new experience for Umran and Auqib Nabi.
“Auqib is good talented all-rounder and I am hopeful this experience of being around top level players will help him a lot. Umran emerged into scene this year for J&K cricket. He had excellent debut outing for J&K in T20 and has good pace. In SRH camp, he will learn lot from top quality pacers. Also presence of Samad who is now into his second season in IPL will also help him a great deal. Overall it is going to benefit J&K cricket,” he added.
IPL management owing to COVID-19 pandemic has been utilizing services of domestic cricketers as net bowlers for the teams during tournament.
Normally local cricketers used to be part as net bowlers but due to bio-bubble created for COVID-19, only chosen set of cricketers are utilized for the services. These players have to be part of the bio-bubble from start till the end.
(Courtesy: Greater Kashmir )