It is not often that Indian cricketers turn out in foreign T20 leagues but Munaf Patel along with the likes of Irfan Pathan, Sudip Tyagi and Manpreet Gony have been the exception this year at the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rules make it clear that no active Indian first-class cricketers can turn out in foreign T20 leagues but Munaf Patel retired from all forms of cricket back in 2018. Former paceman had a brief international career with the Indian team between 2006 and 2011 but his journey from a small town of Ikhar in Bahruch district of Gujarat has been nothing short of magical.
When he burst on to the scene during the 2006 series against England at home, he was sent straight from the tutelage of TA Sekhar and Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation to the hard grind of Test cricket. Munaf Patel ended up with 35 Test scalps and 86 ODI wicket but was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad under skipper Mahendra…