India’s pace bowling sensation Umran Malik has been the toast of the IPL 2022. The fast bowler from Jammu is playing for SunRisers Hyderabad and he picked up 10 wickets in seven games at an economy rate of 8.23 and has played a pivotal role in SRH’s comeback in IPL 2022. 

Also read: Andrew Symonds blames ‘IPL money’ for ‘poisoning’ his relationship with Michael Clarke

As there is a widespread call for Umran Malik’s inclusion in the Indian team, Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars’ owner, Sameen Rana has noticed a massive similarity between the Indian youngster and Pakistan pace bowling sensation Haris Rauf, claiming that the franchise has successfully managed to inspire Indian cricket with the latter’s inspirational journey.

Also read: IPL 2022: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli form worry fans, experts still have faith

Rauf is a founder of PSL. In the 2018 PSL, Rauf was picked by the Lahore team when he has no experience of playing in first-class cricket. Rauf made his first domestic appearance and donned the Pakistan jersey in 2020. 

Also read: IPL 2022: Kane Williamson says SRH needs to focus on upcoming challenges after decimating RCB

Speaking on paktv.tv , Rana claimed that Umran’s rise to fame in IPL 2022 was inspired by Haris’ journey and that it was Lahore Qalandars who managed to inspire Indian cricket for this. 

“I am very happy that Lahore Qalandars have not just impressed Pakistan cricket but also Indian cricket. If you look at Umran Malik’s story, you will see that it has been a Haris-Rauf inspired story. Maybe they had followed Haris’ story and must have thought if it can happen in Pakistan, then why not in India. Because there are a lot of similarities. Both started from white-ball cricket, are from Jammu and Kashmir, no background in first-class cricket,” he said. 

Also read: IPL 2022: Brevis says Kohli will ‘bounce back’ in form stronger than ever

Unlike Rauf, Umran played first-class cricket for Jammu and Kashmir before he was roped in by SRH in 2021 IPL as T Natarajan’s replacement. Natarajan tested positive for COVID-19. The then 21-year-old had only played two First-Class games, one T20 and one List A game for his state, but had taken IPL by storm with his sheer pace which impressed Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri.

“I have never seen that happen in IPL before. And it happened until Haris, who became a success and gave others a new pathway. I hope it doesn’t happen to Umran, but we were criticised a lot when Haris was in our team that we killed domestic cricket and affected the sport. But today, he is Pakistan’s pride. When he goes abroad and plays for teams like Yorkshire, they call him ‘Pakistani superstar’. So we have given cricketers a new pathway and I want to take credit for that,” Rana added.