If Umran Malik was in the team’s playing 11 few months back, he can surely find a place in India A side – Irfan Pathan

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan is surprised to note Umran Malik’s exclusion from India A squad for the tour of South Africa. Malik has played 10 ODI and eight T20I matches for the national team, taking 13 and 11 wickets respectively.

Not only was Malik excluded from India’s limited-overs squad against South Africa, he also could not find a place in the A-team squad, which will be led by KS Bharat.

While the young fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir has impressed with his express pace, he still got a lot to improve in his line and length. The fast bowler has also proved to be costly as he has conceded his runs at an economy rate of 6.54 in ODIs and 10.49 in T20I format.

“I’m pretty sure the guy who was in the Indian team’s playing 11 few months back can surely find a place in India A side. #umranmalik,” Pathan wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Malik was also not backed by Sunrisers Hyderabad after his mundane performances in IPL 2023. Pathan had said that Malik was not handled well by the Orange Army.

“League’s fastest bowler sitting out baffles me. Umran Malik wasn’t handled well by his team,” Pathan had written in 2023.

On the other hand, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had earlier said that Malik needs to work on his line and length to reap rewards at the top level as only pace will not do the job for him.

“Making the bloke understand his own bowling. Reading the game, reading the batter. What’s required? Making him think that just what he’s thinking is not right. I am referring to Umran Malik here. Just thinking, it is pace, pace and pace. I got to come in and bang it. He should be also told that at 150 (kmph), the ball can disappear at 250 (kmph) off the bat,” Shastri had told ESPNcricinfo.

“Straight. No uncertain terms. He has got to understand how he starts. Obviously, they will show him all the videos and footage, as to where and why he has suffered, and you have got to make him understand as to what he could have done differently,” the former India head coach had further added.

Malik will aim to bounce back stronger and prove his mettle in the domestic circuit.