Munaf Patel to play for Mumbai

Munaf Patel, the much-hyped fast bowler from Bharuch, will play for Mumbai in the forthcoming Ranji Trophy season. Munaf made his first-class debut a month ago for India A against New Zealand, and there was much speculation which Ranji team he would play for. Baroda and Gujarat, his home state, were the other sides in the running.

Ratnakar Shetty, joint honourary secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), told the Press Trust of India that Munaf met him at the MCA office on Saturday to submit the transfer certificate from Gujarat to Mumbai.

This move gives Mumbai a problem of plenty. They already have a host of medium-pacers in the reckoning, including Ajit Agarkar, Aavishkar Salvi, Swapnil Hazare, Robin Morris and Santosh Saxena. But Munaf, with his raw pace reported to regularly cross 140kmph, should have no trouble being a regular in the first XI.