Jammu and Kashmir young pacer Umran Malik has joined SRH as a short-term replacement of left-arm quick T Natarajan on Covid-19 grounds for the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League.
Malik had travelled with the Sunrisers to UAE as a net bowler but has now turned into an interim member of the playing group following Natarajan’s positive COVID-19 test last week.
Natarajan is in isolation from the rest of the SRH group after contracting the contagious virus ahead of the UAE leg opener against the Delhi Capitals. He was separated from the team along with six individuals identified as his close contacts. The rest of the SRH camp, including those close contacts, gave negative Covid tests and the match.
Malik, Natarajan’s short-term replacement, has represented J & K domestically in one T20 and List A game each. He is available for selection until Natarajan recovers and rejoins SRH’s bio-bubble.
“Under the Regulation 6.1 (c), franchises are allowed to sign a short-term replacement player until the original squad member is permitted to re-enter the team’s bio-secure environment. Hence, Malik will only be a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad side until Natarajan recovers and is allowed to join the team,”
the IPL governing council stated in a media release.
SRH will hope that Malik can make a positive impact on their fortunes as the 2016 champions are looking in a dire state at this stage of the tournament. The poor loss against Delhi Capitals has piled on their problems as they now stand bottom of the IPL 2021 points table with just one win and seven losses from eight matches.
SRH next play on Saturday against the Punjab Kings in Sharjah.
