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Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan is not happy with the way Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are handling their tearaway pacer Umran Malik in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Pathan feels that the league’s fastest bowler should not be warming the benches.
Pathan expressed his disappointment as SRH lost to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home by seven wickets at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 13. “League’s fastest bowler sitting out baffles me. Umran Malik wasn’t handled well by his team,” he tweeted.
Malik has played in seven out of 11 matches SRH have played in the season. He has been expensive with an economy rate of 10.35 runs per over. He has picked five wickets from these games at strike rate of 20.40. However, Malik has not bowled his full quota of four overs in last four appearances.
Considered as the future star of Indian pace bowling lineup by many, Malik had a breakthrough season last time. He was a little expensive at over nine runs per over but picked up 22 wickets from 14 games. His breakneck speeds made headlines which led to him getting fastracked into Indian limited-overs lineup. Few former cricketers even suggested that he should be picked for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia considering the pace he bowls at.
Malik made his last appearance for SRH on April 29 against Delhi Capitals (DC). He conceded 22 runs from his first over and was not brought back into the attack as left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma completed his quota of overs.
Against LSG, SRH bowlers were top notch in the first half of the innings. However, they were poor in the slog overs which led to their seven-wicket defeat with four balls left in the innings while defending a target of 183 at home.
The onslaught started in the 16th over. Aiden Markram brought back Abhishek into the attack. Marcus Stoinis started off with two gigantic sixes. The left-arm spinner was able to take his wicket only to get for three consecutive sixes by Nicholas Pooran which turned the tide in LSG’s favour.
Pathan was also baffled with Markram’s decision to give the ball to Abhishek in the 16th over as he tweeted: “Bowling a part timer the 16th over was not a mistake. It was a blunder…..”
With their seventh loss of the season, SRH are placed ninth on the points table with a negative net run rate. They are highly unlikely to make a comeback with three league games left in the season.
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