Munaf Patel

Full name: Munaf Musa Patel
Born: July 12, 1983, Ikhar, Gujarat
Major teams: India, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Indian Board President's XI, Reebok XI

Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium-fast

Test debut: India v England at Mohali - Mar 9-13, 2006

ODI debut: India v England at Margao - Apr 3, 2006

PROFILE
Born in a anti-cricket family, Munaf can be indisputably said as the fastest pacer this pace-starved nation has found. Much before he made his first class debut, he was invited to join the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai after Kiran More saw him practising at nets. While he trained under the legendary Australian player Dennis Lillee, he even surprised the all time great, Steve Waugh, with his pace. The surprised and impressed fellow shot out 'This bloke's quick, where did he come from.

While Munaf trained at the MRF Pace Academy, he even impressed the Little Master - Sachin Tendulkar. Seeing his tremendous abilities, Tendulkar asked him to join the Mumbai team. So before Munaf could debut for Baroda or Gujrat he had been transferred to Mumbai. Even then the road ahead was not clear. Before he could make his first class debut from Mumbai, he was made the strike bowler for the team as Avishkar Salvi was down with an injury and Ajit Agarkar was playing for the national team. Even then he took a respectable haul of 14 wickets in his first season.

Regular performances at the national level - not to forget 10 wickets against England while playing from Board's President XI, at last earned him a place in the national team. Patel recorded an awesome figures of 7/97 on his debut with 4 wickets in the second innings, a feat rarely accomplished. He bowled regularly at a speed of over 87 mph and touching the 90 mph regularly. But its his pace along with control on line and length that he was able to rip through the English line up. Again when West Indies toured India he proved his mettle by bowling at over 85mph with control regularly. But during the same series he was forced to face the dishonour of being hit for 6 fours in an over by Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Though Munaf has been the fastest Indian pacer unearthed till now, his injuries are a worrying factor. He has been surrounded by a stint of injuries in his early career only. His rounded bowling action, unsteady head and other reasons has kept him injured most of the time. He missed most of the 2004-05 season playing only three games due to various injuries and was written off by many. He was even sent to the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra for bio-mechanical tests on his bowling action. Munaf was also down due to sore ankle for over two months in the late 2006 and missed almost whole of the tour of South Africa. Due to these varied injuries his speed has dropped from the quick 145 kph to a normal 130 kph. Besides this he isn't quick on the field, another point against him. Even then he has been picked for the world cup 2007 to be held in the Caribbeans. Bets of luck Munaf!
View his stats at http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/32965.html