Jammu & Kashmir express Umran Malik who has clocked 157kmph on the speed gun targets to surpass Pakistan great Shoaib Akhtar's world record.
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Jammu & Kashmir express Umran Malik has been synonymous with pace in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. He clocked 154kmph twice before breaking his own record on Thursday to bowl at 157kmph against Delhi Capitals for SunRisers Hyderabad, recording the fastest ball of the lucrative tournament in the ongoing season. However, his father Abdul Rashid who works as a fruit seller in his hometown, believes that his ward is not going to be content with it.
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Malik takes inspiration from India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and adores the likes of former India captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. However, his main target is to break the world record of the fastest ball bowled in international cricket by Shoaib Akhtar, which stands at 161.3 kmph (100.23 mph). The Rawalpindi express had set the record during the 2003 World Cup in a match against England.
“Umran really likes Jasprit Bumrah and always wanted to bowl yorkers like him. He also loves MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as cricketers,” his father told the newindian.in. “He has been telling me one day he will break the record of Shoaib Akhtar and will unfurl the fastest delivery ever recorded in the history of cricket. I want the country to pray for him and keep supporting him.”
Malik was as young as four years old when he picked up the ball for the first time. He continued playing cricket in local tournaments where his pace was recognized but hardly had any idea of professional cricket till 2017. “Umran was always fervently fond of cricket right from when he was just a 4-year-old kid. He used to play a lot of cricket in the streets and later in school and local tournaments. Right from the word go, Umran had the ability to bowl fast. No one taught him to bowl fast; it came naturally to him.
“People used to tell me that they saw my boy bowl in local matches and rave about his amazing pace. I always had confidence that he would do something spectacular. Like any father, I’m ecstatic at how he’s been bowling in the tournament. His yorkers, in particular, are stinging and hugely effective. I’m also overwhelmed by the love and support he’s getting from all quarters. Now, he’s not just my son but the son of India. I want him to keep plugging away tirelessly and make his country proud at the international level.”
