Srinagar: The star studded J&K senior cricket team have suffered two consecutive defeats in the season opener Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 with star pacer Umran Malik failing to lead the bowling attack.
Unlike old times, when J&K used to be devoid of any star power, this J&K side is full of stars. Umran Malik is fastest Indian pacer ever while as Abdul Samad is IPL heartthrob. Vivrant Sharma is rising IPL all-rounder while as Rasikh Salam is making a strong comeback. Yudhvir Singh is another pacer who plays in IPL. Overall this side is full of stars and talent but the outcome is disappointing.
In the first match, J&K were defeated by Baroda while as in second match were outplayed by Hyderabad. In both the matches, one expected the biggest star of the side – Umran Malik – to led by example but he was nowhere visible. In both the matches , he looked listless and ordinary. In the match against Baroda, Umran Malik bowled four overs conceding 33 runs for one wicket while as against Hyderabad Malik was expensive and wicketless. He bowled only two overs conceding 23 runs.
For the side that looks at Umran Malik as the senior pacer and the one to led by example, the performance so far has been disappointing and the overall result is no different.
Umran Malik looks shadow of the bowler who bursted into the Indian and International cricket scene. He had started to instill fear amoung the batters with his raw pace but now even the domestic local cricketers are able to play and hit him easily.
The lack of performance was the reason Umran Malik was dropped out of India side for Asia Cup, World Cup and Asian Games. It was lack of performance that pushed him back towards J&K Cricket and play domestic Cricket.
Before leaving for SMAT , J&K squad held camp in Srinagar with practice matches also played. Umran may have played one odd match only.
In the absence of Parvez Rasool who was left out due to JKCA politics, Umran Malik is the guy to led bowling attack. He is the spearhead pacer who should support comeback man Rasikh Salam and the likes of Yudhvir Singh and Aquib Nabi but he is yet to act in a mature way.
The prime example of his lack of maturity is that minutes after J&K lost against Hyderabad on Tuesday, Umran Malik posted advertisement on his instagram handle, caring least for the outcome of the match.
“Everyone knows about his temperament and lack of maturity. We needed someone like Parvez in the team who can handle him well and get best out of him. But this time there is no such person in the squad at all. Likes of Shubham Khajuria who is most senior in the side lack that authority, ” Said a former well known cricketer.
“It is not as such that J&K suffer defeats because of Umran Malik but one expect him to do well atleast in domestic circuit. So far he has failed to do so at this level and if any criticism comes his way, he cant blame any one. It looks like, coach is also not handling the team well and combination and bowling changes can also be questioned,” he added.
J&K is scheduled to clash against Haryana on Thursday in the tournament and one can hope that Umran Malik goes on to reignite his hunger for wickets and lead J&K to a victory.
He is the fastest Indian pacer who has played for India. Domestic batters should fear him and he should be getting bucket full of wickets. If his performance will remain such then he can forget his International return and may be happy with big money IPL contracts. Also it is likely that Umran Malik may leave Sunrisers Hyderabad in coming time so money is no issue but the performance will remain.