Yusuf Pathan, the former all-rounder of the Indian cricket team, expressed his disappointment with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) regarding their handling of the young pace bowler Umran Malik during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
Umran’s participation has been limited to only seven matches out of SRH’s total of 13 matches, resulting in a mere five wickets for him. Last season, the 23-year-old had a remarkable performance by taking 22 wickets in 14 matches, earning him a spot in the Indian national team.
Prior to SRH’s match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Yusuf openly criticized the team management for their inadequate utilization of Umran.
“In the previous year, Umran Malik showcased exceptional skills, and you all took credit for his success. However, this year, he needed your support. But did he receive it? Was he given the opportunity to showcase his talents properly? He is a young and promising bowler who represents the future of Indian cricket.
“Every time he has played for India, he has performed admirably. Unfortunately, you have failed to capitalize on his potential, and the same can be said for several other players within the franchise,” expressed Yusuf on ESPNcricinfo.
Yusuf Pathan also highlighted the mismanagement of Indian talents by referring to the case of Abhishek Sharma, an uncapped batsman. He criticized SRH’s inconsistent handling of Abhishek, citing his successful stint as an opener in the previous year.
However, this year, the team experimented with his batting positions and even dropped him from the playing XI at one stage. Yusuf emphasized the importance of supporting and backing players at the right time, rather than creating uncertainty and confusion within the team.
The SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) team’s poor performance in the IPL 2023 further accentuates the concerns raised by Yusuf. The team currently finds itself at the bottom of the standings, occupying the 10th position, with only eight points from 13 matches. Their elimination from the tournament is confirmed, reflecting the consequences of the mismanagement discussed by Yusuf.
