'We've seen Sachin Tendulkar follow this process' - Irfan Pathan's special message for Umran Malik ahead of international debut

Veteran India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has recalled a valuable piece of advice that he had given to emerging speedster Umran Malik. The cricketer-turned-commentator had told Umran to focus on his line and length and at the same time also asked him to refrain from reducing his pace.

The 22-year-old has received his maiden call-up for the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa starting June 9. He has been rewarded for his consistent performances in the IPL 2022 where he clocked in excess of 150 kmph at regular intervals and also starred with the ball in hand taking three and four-wicket hauls and a fifer.

I always tell him that you have to pay attention to your line and length: Irfan Pathan on Umran Malik

“I always tell him that you have to pay attention to your line and length but you should not reduce your pace at all. The more he tries to keep the ball close to the three stumps and keeps on bowling the hard length, everything else will come with time,” said Pathan while speaking on Star Sports show Game Plan.

“I have just a simple advice for him after every match, whether it was in the IPL or will be going forward – what you have done well today and where you have to improve. This process has to be there till he or anyone else plays cricket. We have seen Sachin Tendulkar follow this process although no one else has had a career like him,” he added.

Malik, who was one of the Sunrisers Hyderabad‘s mandatory retentions for IPL 2022, had a memorable season as he finished with 22 scalps from 14 matches. Even though he regularly featured in the Purple Cap race due to his fantastic individual performances, SRH remained inconsistent as a unit and failed to make the playoffs. They finished at the eighth position having won six out of 14 games and 12 points to their tally at a negative NRR of -0.379.