‘Papa, I want to play for India’ – Umran Malik’s father opens up about his son’s ambitions

Umran Malik’s fortune turned overnight when his consistent 145 kmph bowling caught the eyes of national selectors on his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 edition.

The 22-year-old pacer, who made heads turn for clocking 152.94 kmph against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), was rewarded with a stint as a net bowler with the Indian team in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

For his electrifying pace, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer was drafted into India A squad for the three four-day series against South Africa A.

The mercurial rise in Malik’s cricketing career has left his father Abdul Rashid captivating.

“He used to say to me, ‘Papa, I want to play for India’. Our wishes have always been with him. We pray to God that our child plays for India one day. Now that his name has come into India ‘A’ squad, I hope in the future his name comes into the India squad and makes the nation proud. We tell everyone ‘He is not our child; he is the child of the nation’. Our only wish now is to see him play well and bring glory to the country,” Rashid told IANS over a phone call.

“We tell everyone ‘He is not our child; he is the child of the nation’. Our only wish now is to see him play well and bring glory to the country. We are really happy. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir and India is happy for this kid. The whole country has been praising him. We have been extremely delighted along with the whole nation as he has bowled very well,” he added.

The right-arm speedster was earlier not a part of the SRH main squad. He was drafted into the squad when left-arm seamer T Natarajan tested positive of COVID-19.

After getting the opportunity, Malik displayed his raw talent. He first stunned SRH fans and then RCB talisman Virat Kohli.

Malik’s strength and sheer pace will now be tested in the three four-day matches against South Africa A on the tour commencing from November 23.