IND vs AFG: "Umran Malik Doesn't Even Get Selected For India A" - Aakash Chopra Blasts Selectors

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed concern over the absence of young pacer Umran Malik from the squad for the recent white-ball series. Aakash Chopra emphasized that Umran Malik had been on the selectors’ radar for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Umran Malik isn’t included in the squad, despite Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being rested for the series.

Malik was not included in the squad for the three-match T20I series against Australia at home. He also did not get an opportunity for the recent multi-format tour of South Africa. He was not included in either the India A side or the intra-squad practice games.

Umran Malik Was Everywhere – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned the sudden disappearance of Umran from all squads within three months, emphasizing the need for clarity on the reasons behind his absence.

“Till some time back, Umran Malik was everywhere. We took him to the West Indies as well and it seemed like he could be in the World Cup team too but now he is not there in any of the teams. He doesn’t even get selected for India A,” Chopra said.

“What happened within three months that a guy first gets selected for the Indian team, gets very minimum chances there, and then goes totally missing? We don’t even know where Umran Malik is. Why isn’t he there? We should know why this is happening,” he added.

Umran’s last appearance for India was in an ODI match against the West Indies in July 2023. His poor outings in ODIs during the Windies tour led to his exclusion from the national team. He registered figures of 2/9 in 2.1 overs during his last T20I in February 2023.

Why Is Shreyas Iyer Not There? – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra expressed confusion over Shreyas Iyer‘s exclusion from the T20I series against Afghanistan, despite his match-winning performance in the final T20I against Australia last month.

“When I look at the recent selection, I see Shreyas Iyer. There was a five-match series immediately after the World Cup, so he was rested for the first two or three matches but then he joined the team as a vice-captain. He scored a fifty in the last match against Australia as well. It was a match-winning knock,” Chopra further added.

“Then he went to South Africa as well but now he is not in the team. Why is he not there? If he was a part of your team, what happened to him now, suddenly? What will you tell Shreyas Iyer, that why hasn’t he been picked?”

Shreyas Iyer was included in the squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa. However, Iyer didn’t get a chance in the playing XI during the series. Overall, he played 51 T20Is and scored 1101 runs at an average of 30.67 and a strike rate of 136.13.

Also read: IND vs AFG: “He Was Going As A Keeper But..” – Aakash Chopra Expresses Surprise At Ishan Kishan’s Absence