Playing for country comes first: Munaf Patel

[1983-2011]

Munaf Patel is on a comeback trail. After an ankle injury kept him out, the Baroda fast bowler in finding his form in the West Zone one-dayers that concluded here on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Patel said that playing for the country is a priority, not the cash-rich Indian Premier League. “Playing for the country is something a cricketer cherishes more than playing in IPL,” Patel said. “I have worked hard on my fitness and that has helped me.” As a senior player, Patel has been playing the role of a mentor for Baroda. “As a senior, it is my duty to help the youngsters. These guys need to be told about the length and good areas of bowling and that is what I do,” said Patel, who last played for India on the tour of England in 2011. Patel is of the opinion that mental strength is as important as fitness. “Whenever a person is fit, he will give his hundred percent. But at the same time, he has to be mentally strong. I have made efforts to improve my mental strength,” he emphasised. Patel is looking to performing well in the rest of the domestic season that includes Mushtaq Ali Trophy for T20s and Deodhar Trophy. http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_playing-for-country-comes-first-munaf-patel_1802350

[Vanarp22]

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_playing-for-country-comes-first-munaf-patel_1802350?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Good to see his attitude...playing for India not IPL:two_thumbs_up:

[Vanarp22]

Good to see his attitude...playing for India not IPL:two_thumbs_up:

And I hope he comes back even though he didn't perform perfectly

[Dumbbells]

No, thanks bro. U should stop dreaming abt playing for India anymore.

[nevada]

"As a senior player, Patel has been playing the role of a mentor for Baroda." Wow, now he is a mentor too. Maybe the kids can look at him and learn what not to become.

[1983-2011]

A little bit of cheer for Munaf Patel The third delivery of Munaf Patel's second over pitched just short of a length. The ball held its line as Vijay Zol contemplated whether to play it off the front foot or the back. A fraction of a second later, the white Kookaburra deviated away and the left-handed Zol edged to the wicket-keeper. The 18-year-old Zol is yet to play a first class match, but few wickets in recent times will have given Munaf, who has the experience of 13 Tests and 70 ODIs, as much joy. This was the 29-year-old's third match since his comeback from injury, and his first scalp, after wicketless spells in his first two Vijay Hazare Trophy West Zone matches against Mumbai and Gujarat. Munaf's scream of joy reverberated around the Poona Club as his Baroda teammates embraced him. Five overs later, he produced another peach, which cut in sharply off the seam to rattle Harshad Khadiwale's stumps. Munaf had dismissed both Maharashtra openers. His spell of 2/34 in 11 overs was one of the highlights of Baroda's four-wicket victory. "The line that I bowled today and also in the last match (against Gujarat) has given me a lot of confidence. I am hitting good areas consistently and also managing to swing the ball both ways," he says. Munaf had suffered a broken ankle in 2011, during an ODI against England at Cardiff. After that injury, the pacer has been plagued by a chronic knee injury which he attributed to overuse. He played 12 matches for the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 IPL and also figured in two games during the Champions League T20 in South Africa. But after that tournament, Munaf's knee injury flared up once again and he was forced to miss Baroda's entire Ranji Trophy campaign. Downhill "Once my ankle broke, it just went wrong. I thought after playing 12 games in the IPL that I was completely fit but then the knee gave way. I made it a point not to rush my comeback and took my own time. I have had a good rehabilitation process, have strengthened my lower body and now I hope to do well in the Deodhar Trophy and T20 games," he says. Baroda coach Sanath Kumar says that Munaf's presence in the side has been very helpful. "He is a very accurate bowler and also a very good mentor to our youngsters. He takes charge of the bowlers and always talks to them about what areas to bowl, what variations to use. We missed him during the Ranji Trophy, but we are glad he is back," he says. Munaf is targetting a comeback to the Indian team on the back of a good showing on the domestic circuit and the IPL. "I hope to play a reasonable number of domestic games before the IPL," he says. "Doing well in those games will give me a good chance to stake a claim for a place." http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-little-bit-of-cheer-for-munaf-patel/1077264/0

[G_B_]

Munaf patel has serious mental issues. no way bring him back for india

[Lord]

hes a decent LOI bowler tbh

[vishalvirsingh]

The third delivery of Munaf Patel's second over pitched just short of a length. The ball held its line as Vijay Zol contemplated whether to play it off the front foot or the back. A fraction of a second later, the white Kookaburra deviated away and the left-handed Zol edged to the wicket-keeper. The 18-year-old Zol is yet to play a first class match, but few wickets in recent times will have given Munaf, who has the experience of 13 Tests and 70 ODIs, as much joy. This was the 29-year-old's third match since his comeback from injury, and his first scalp, after wicketless spells in his first two Vijay Hazare Trophy West Zone matches against Mumbai and Gujarat. Munaf's scream of joy reverberated around the Poona Club as his Baroda teammates embraced him. Five overs later, he produced another peach, which cut in sharply off the seam to rattle Harshad Khadiwale's stumps. Munaf had dismissed both Maharashtra openers. His spell of 2/34 in 11 overs was one of the highlights of Baroda's four-wicket victory. "The line that I bowled today and also in the last match (against Gujarat) has given me a lot of confidence. I am hitting good areas consistently and also managing to swing the ball both ways," he says. Munaf had suffered a broken ankle in 2011, during an ODI against England at Cardiff. After that injury, the pacer has been plagued by a chronic knee injury which he attributed to overuse. He played 12 matches for the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 IPL and also figured in two games during the Champions League T20 in South Africa. But after that tournament, Munaf's knee injury flared up once again and he was forced to miss Baroda's entire Ranji Trophy campaign. Downhill "Once my ankle broke, it just went wrong. I thought after playing 12 games in the IPL that I was completely fit but then the knee gave way. I made it a point not to rush my comeback and took my own time. I have had a good rehabilitation process, have strengthened my lower body and now I hope to do well in the Deodhar Trophy and T20 games," he says. Baroda coach Sanath Kumar says that Munaf's presence in the side has been very helpful. "He is a very accurate bowler and also a very good mentor to our youngsters. He takes charge of the bowlers and always talks to them about what areas to bowl, what variations to use. We missed him during the Ranji Trophy, but we are glad he is back," he says. Munaf is targetting a comeback to the Indian team on the back of a good showing on the domestic circuit and the IPL. "I hope to play a reasonable number of domestic games before the IPL," he says. "Doing well in those games will give me a good chance to stake a claim for a place." http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-little-bit-of-cheer-for-munaf-patel/1077264/0

what PACE is he bowling at now a days is it 100 to 110K or 110k to 120K or 120 to 130 K.... or is it higher.................. he needs to bowl between 135 to 145K with accuracy which is now a dream for him so let him see his past video's n motivate himself.

[moniker]

Munaf patel has serious mental issues.

Why do you say that?

[1983-2011]

Munaf Patel picked in West Zone squad for Deodhar Trophy

Mumbai: Medium-pacer Munaf Patel will represent West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy inter-zonal one-day tournament scheduled in Guwahati March 10-13. Parthiv Patel-led West Zone have been given a direct berth in the semi-final (March 12) where they will play either South or East. The second semi-final March 11 will see North and Central Zone battle it out. The final will be played March 13. The dangerous Yusuf Pathan and Rohit Sharma are also part of the squad. West Zone squad: Parthiv Patel (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Munaf Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rakesh Dhruv, Kamlesh Makwana, Manpreet Juneja, Aditya Waghmode, Vijay Zol.

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/domestic-cricket-2012/deodhar-trophy/munaf-patel-picked-in-west-zone-squad-for-deodhar-trophy_756836.html