T20 World Cup 2022: Why did Umran Malik's exclusion from the Indian team make Brett Lee angry and Waqar Younis happy?

While there was significant confusion between Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, and Shardul Thakur, a young name addressed by former cricketing greats was that of Umran Malik. 

Umran Malik should have been in the World Cup squad - Brett Lee

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee was one of those who backed Umran Malik for inclusion in the World Cup squad. He said, "Umran Malik is bowling at 150 km per hour. I mean, when you have the best car in the world and you leave it in the garage, then what's the point of having that car? Umran Malik should have been picked in the Indian squad for the World Cup."

Brett Lee was furious to see such young talent being neglected who can potentially do well in Australian pitches meant for pacers. Umran Malik debuted at the international level after following an impressive run in IPL 2022, where he bowled consistently at a pace of 150 kmph, giving batters a hard time reading the ball. He accounted for 22 scalps at an economy of 12.44 in IPL 2022.

He had an average outing in the international chances given as he leaked runs poorly. The ex-speedster added, "Yes, he is young, he is raw, but he bowls at 150 kmph, so get him in the team, get him to Australia where the ball flies through. It's different when you have a guy bowling at 140 kmph and a guy who is bowling at 150 kmph."

The exclusion of Umran Malik is a blessing for Pakistan- Waqar Younis

While Brett Lee was furious and disappointed over the exclusion of Umran Malik, former Pakistan great Waqar Younis expressed his happiness for the same. He believes it is a blessing for the Men in Green that the bowler who could have held a potential threat is absent from the squad. On many occasions, Waqar Younis has labeled the pacer as a 'real talent'. 

The pacer said, "If you pick even the great bowlers, very early they are thrown in the deep end and they learn to swim quickly. I'm happy he's not there because Pakistan's match is looming. He's a real talent. We spoke about this in the Asia Cup as well because he didn't belong to any of the Star Sports' experts' team. I was really surprised because they don't think the way we do."

"We feel if we have pace, everything will go right. And eventually, you saw that the boys who debuted under I and Misbah are now the backbone of the bowling."

He believes that Indian management needed to leap of faith to get such a promising player and make him play in crunch matches. While it might look that Indian management is not looking at the young pacer at the moment, certain cricket pundits believe that India must not hurry in getting the pacers at a high level. 

Once his line, length and economy rate takes the right place, he will undoubtedly find his place cemented in the Indian squad for the long run. The World Cup stage set in Australia will miss the pace of 150-plus kmph that no other bowler possesses.