Srinagar: J&K’s tearaway pacer Umran Malik is going through tough time in the ongoing IPL 2023 and the latest statement by Sunrisers Hyderabad Captain Aiden Markram fuels further speculation.
Already Sunrisers Hyderabad management is under fire for mishandling India’s fastest ever bowler Umran Malik in the ongoing edition of IPL.
Umran Malik has so far played only seven matches in the league in which he has taken only five wickets. His economy is on higher side and he has last played on April 29 against Delhi Capitals. The situation is such that Malik is not even being kept amoung substitutes.
Amid the outrage, Aiden Markram on Thursday gave a bizarre statement, which puts lot of question mark on the future of Umran Malik with the SRH. Pertinently Malik was retained by Sunrisers for Rs 4 crores.
“Not too sure to be honest. Certainly he’s a player with the X factor, bowls at 150kph, but I don’t really know what’s about behind the scenes but he has a lot of X factor,” Markram said at the toss for SRH’s clash with RCB.
Former Cricketer including that if Malik is mentor Irfan Pathan have lashed out at SRH for not handling Umran well. Australia legend Brett Lee has also questioned the way Umran Malik is being handled.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has also slammed SRH.
“Umran Malik has not been handled well I felt by the franchise, (in) the way he should have been handled by the franchise, (in) the way his services should have been utilised by SRH. That’s something which was evident,” Zaheer told NDTV.
“When you are talking about a young seamer, you are also looking at creating that environment and support. And, that guidance is required. Unfortunately that was not seen by SRH. That’s why, he’s had a season like this,” he added.
Besides Zaheer, former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has hit out at Sunrisers Hyderabad’s handling of Umran Malik.
“Last year, Umran Malik performed really well, and you all took credit for that. But this year, he needed your support. But did he get that? Was he utilised properly? You haven’t used him properly, and the same can be said for many players in the franchise,” said Yusuf while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.
“He is a young bowler, he is India’s future. And he has played well for India whenever he turned up in international colours,” Yusuf added.
After his IPL 2022 exploits, Umran got chances in the Indian cricket team as well. He has so far played eight ODIs and as many T20Is, claiming 13 and 11 wickets respectively.