Patel, whose parents are owner/pharmacists in Palmerston North, received a call up from Malan after consistent performances in the Hawke Cup campaign from last summer.
"Michael Mason said I was getting an opportunity at the four-day level because of the Hawke Cup," says Patel, of Manawatu coach Mason, a former Stag and Black Caps seamer.
Having made his CD debut before Christmas, the former Palmerston North Boys' High School pupil has taken the demands of university versus sport in his stride.
His love of the game sees him contribute to CD's cause.
"I'm in my final year of studying so I'll be getting out of it when I graduate to focus on cricket for a few years."
The right-arm, medium-fast swing bowler was born in Birmingham, England, but when he was 9, his parents came to New Zealand for work opportunities and a change in lifestyle.
His sister, Anika, 17, will attend Auckland University this year.
"My parents are obviously very proud and very supportive because they're always travelling and sitting around watching me when I'm playing."
His late grandfather was passionate about cricket, inspiring him into hard-ball cricket at the age of 7.
"There weren't that many opportunities to play cricket in England. They are more academically focused there, whereas in New Zealand everyone is encouraged to play sport so it was a huge bonus to come here."
Malan gave Patel the opportunity to be nightwatchman against Northern Districts in the previous round and he occupied the crease but would have preferred to make more runs.
While white-ball formats would be great, he realises his strength is in the red-ball game.
Where lectures and tutorials will clash with game days, Patel is happy to contribute at the back end of the season.
He thoroughly enjoys the CD environment under new captain William Young, where basics are the norm and a win not too far off, he reckons.
Patel helped Manawatu lift the Hawke Cup in 2013-14 and rates it one of his most memorable moments.
Canterbury will be without opening batsman Tom Latham and bowler Ed Nuttall.
In come Chad Bowes, a former South Africa Under-19 player, and Michael Davidson.
BOTH TEAMS
The Central Districts Stags v Canterbury Kings in the Budget Rental Plunket Shield match at Saxton Oval, Nelson, from today:
STAGS: Will Young (c, Taranaki), Tom Bruce (Taranaki), Dane Cleaver (wk, Manawatu), Greg Hay (Nelson), Ajaz Patel (Hawke's Bay), Navin Patel (Manawatu), Seth Rance (Wairarapa), Dean Robinson (Taranaki), Bevan Small (Manawatu), Ben Smith (Whanganui), Blair Tickner (Hawke's Bay), George Worker (Manawatu).
Coach: Heinrich Malan.
KINGS: Peter Fulton (c), Todd Astle, Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Michael Davidson, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Cole McConchie, Logan van Beek, Will Williams.
Coach: Gary Stead.
