Irfan Pathan, former Indian cricket team all-rounder, has suggested that Afghanistan star Azmatullah Omarzai could serve as a suitable replacement for Hardik Pandya in the Gujarat Titans for the upcoming IPL 2024. With Hardik Pandya rejoining the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans face the challenge of finding a player who can contribute both with the bat and ball. Omarzai, who showcased outstanding all-round performances in the Cricket World Cup 2023 by scoring 353 runs and taking 9 wickets in 9 matches, has caught Pathan’s attention.
Pathan emphasized that Omarzai’s skills make him a good all-round option, and with Rashid Khan already in the Gujarat Titans’ squad, they could effectively utilize Omarzai’s talents. Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan mentioned, “Looking at the Gujarat Titans, they are missing out on Hardik Pandya. Obviously, they are missing out on a leader and a guy who can actually do both bat and ball equally, really well. Who is there at the auction table?”
He further suggested, “I see Azmatullah Omarzai going to Gujarat Titans because he is a perfect fit. We have Rashid Khan there as well, who can actually get the best out of his countryman. Apart from an all-rounder, they require a proper fast bowler there. They need to go for that extra pace, and they have a good purse available.”
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Irfan Pathan also suggested that the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), should consider acquiring the services of pacer Harshal Patel, who has been released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“They have a lot of fast bowlers who can get injured regularly, guys like Deepak Chahar. They keep a lot of faith in Deepak Chahar but if he is not fit and available, they can be in a mess. So what they need – maybe a guy like Harshal Patel. Bangalore is not far from there, so just get Harshal Patel with a small ride of five hours, and bring him into CSK,” Pathan expressed his views on Star Sports.