“There are players who seriously damaged Pakistan’s image and were punished for it, yet they are now key members of the national team": Umar Akmal

[Ball Blazer]

Umar Akmal during recent media interaction

"International cricket has always been my top priority. I gave up major leagues to serve Pakistan. But today, I regret those decisions because I never imagined I’d be treated like this. I don’t understand the reason behind it, nor do I know who in the PCB thinks I shouldn't be playing cricket,"

"I'm willing to say it on camera — there are players who seriously damaged Pakistan’s image and were punished for it, yet they are now key members of the national team,"

"I had faced an issue with my NOC before as well, and even then I suffered a significant loss. When the media offered a bit of support, I was asking for an NOC from the 12th to the 25th, but I was given the NOC on the night of the 20th. After that, it was a very difficult decision for me. The way my contract was ruined is extremely unfair,"

"I have applied for another NOC now, but I can’t understand why they haven’t issued it yet. It’s obvious that if I’m going to play in a league, it’s ICC-approved. If it weren’t, why would I even apply?"

"What hurts me the most is that the people in PCB who have the authority in such matters are themselves former cricketers — and for them to act like this despite being cricketers is deeply shameful for me,"

"I’ll have to do it. Right now, I’m not that old — my age is such that I still have time. I can’t just shoot myself if I’m not getting to play for Pakistan. There are players older than me who are still in the Pakistan team and playing in leagues,"

"They’re getting NOCs, but I’m not. So if I come forward with proof in front of the media, then you all can decide for yourselves — and the public will too. That would make me feel much better,"

 

[mominsaigol]

Umar Akmal during recent media interaction

"International cricket has always been my top priority. I gave up major leagues to serve Pakistan. But today, I regret those decisions because I never imagined I’d be treated like this. I don’t understand the reason behind it, nor do I know who in the PCB thinks I shouldn't be playing cricket,"

"I'm willing to say it on camera — there are players who seriously damaged Pakistan’s image and were punished for it, yet they are now key members of the national team,"

"I had faced an issue with my NOC before as well, and even then I suffered a significant loss. When the media offered a bit of support, I was asking for an NOC from the 12th to the 25th, but I was given the NOC on the night of the 20th. After that, it was a very difficult decision for me. The way my contract was ruined is extremely unfair,"

"I have applied for another NOC now, but I can’t understand why they haven’t issued it yet. It’s obvious that if I’m going to play in a league, it’s ICC-approved. If it weren’t, why would I even apply?"

"What hurts me the most is that the people in PCB who have the authority in such matters are themselves former cricketers — and for them to act like this despite being cricketers is deeply shameful for me,"

"I’ll have to do it. Right now, I’m not that old — my age is such that I still have time. I can’t just shoot myself if I’m not getting to play for Pakistan. There are players older than me who are still in the Pakistan team and playing in leagues,"

"They’re getting NOCs, but I’m not. So if I come forward with proof in front of the media, then you all can decide for yourselves — and the public will too. That would make me feel much better,"

Tbf Umar Akmal is now being treated unfairly.

He sucks and his current form is trash but theirs no reason to outright block him from domestic

 

[Ball Blazer]

Tbf Umar Akmal is now being treated unfairly.

He sucks and his current form is trash but theirs no reason to outright block him from domestic

agree...

 

[Smbhayi]

Why he need noc? He isn't centrally contracted player and last played 4-5 years ago for pak nah?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Umar Akmal has gone rogue... Is this an attention seeking trick or is he gonna take some action if he is serious???

 

[Savak]

UA burnt all his chances and bridges. Plus he didn't impress in domestic cricket after 2019 to push for a recall. The spot fixing ban in 2020 was the last straw and the PCB clearly felt he was not worth the baggage anymore.

 

[Major]

I love watching him cry.

 

[Major]

Tbf Umar Akmal is now being treated unfairly.

He sucks and his current form is trash but theirs no reason to outright block him from domestic

true, which is why he should be going to court and not media

 

[mominsaigol]

true, which is why he should be going to court and not media

Theirs no point of going to court now as he is 35 years old and wont be selected anyway. Media whining is his best option now.

 

[Ball Blazer]

A tainted past....

 

[sweep_shot]

UA burnt all his chances and bridges. Plus he didn't impress in domestic cricket after 2019 to push for a recall. The spot fixing ban in 2020 was the last straw and the PCB clearly felt he was not worth the baggage anymore.

He is a great player (probably better than many of the current guys) but he burned too many bridges.

He needed to be more diplomatic I guess.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

He is a great player (probably better than many of the current guys) but he burned too many bridges.

He needed to be more diplomatic I guess.

Whatever he had, he had lost it by 2016. 2015 wc was a watershed moment for his career.

 

[sweep_shot]

Whatever he had, he had lost it by 2016. 2015 wc was a watershed moment for his career.

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

I feel like he had the class and talent to be very successful. But, he wasn't handled correctly and he himself had a stubborn personality.

 

[Bhaijaan]

In 2009, Umar Akmal was the best young talent in the world.

Better than Virat, Steve Smith, Kane

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

I feel like he had the class and talent to be very successful. But, he wasn't handled correctly and he himself had a stubborn personality.

Nah. He's special kind of dumb. His fitness issues and stagnant mental growth had handicapped all the talent he had. He had become just an easy batter to set up. Afridi had that problem with the bat as well but had legspin to fall back on. Umar had nothing. 2015 wc showed despite his rants of not getting "as many overs" to bat on, he was still failing. And his fitness levels deprived him of strike rotation which was earlier in his career a bright aspect in his batting. Without strike rotation, he had just become a hit or out batter.

 

[mominsaigol]

He is a great player (probably better than many of the current guys) but he burned too many bridges.

He needed to be more diplomatic I guess.

No, at present he can't even play against gully bowlers and has gotten bowled by them.

His fitness is a joke. That photoshopped abs picture is hilarious . He isn't just washed up, its clear his skills have gone down the drain to the point that many gully cricketers can possibly rival him.

However what i don't understand is that why didnt Pakistan give him a chance in test cricket?

He was a 50+ fc batter before his debut and in 2009 he avg 57 in international test cricket and had a freak tour vs NZ in NZ where most Pakistani batters struggle?

Even now he avg 43 in fc.

So why did they shove him aside from test cricket so quickly?

It never made any sense?

But yeah as a player currently hes a joke.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He is mentally retarded. I take no pleasure in saying it not am I mocking him. But he really is.

Unfortunately real life isn't like Forrest Gump and such players won't make it to the top ever.

In football in England these type of peopel tend to **** their life away on alcohol or ruin it with women but the end result is always the same, a career full of bitterness and lack of achievement.

In Akmals case his family didn't help him either, instead of guiding him they indulged him. Coach and captain don't have time to care about people too much either
There is only so much that these types of personalities can achieve.

 

[nish_mate]

He is mentally retarded. I take no pleasure in saying it not am I mocking him. But he really is.

Unfortunately real life isn't like Forrest Gump and such players won't make it to the top ever.

In football in England these type of peopel tend to **** their life away on alcohol or ruin it with women but the end result is always the same, a career full of bitterness and lack of achievement.

In Akmals case his family didn't help him either, instead of guiding him they indulged him. Coach and captain don't have time to care about people too much either
There is only so much that these types of personalities can achieve.

Retarded or somewhere on the autism spectrum?

 

[RidiculousMan]

In 2009, Umar Akmal was the best young talent in the world.

Better than Virat, Steve Smith, Kane

And the thing is that it is all true. He actually was best among them all at that time.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Retarded or somewhere on the autism spectrum?

Very low IQ and mentally stunted not Autistic.

I'm not a doctor but I've seen similar traits in mentally challenged people and similar look in their eyes.

 

[Major]

He is mentally retarded. I take no pleasure in saying it not am I mocking him. But he really is.

Unfortunately real life isn't like Forrest Gump and such players won't make it to the top ever.

In football in England these type of peopel tend to **** their life away on alcohol or ruin it with women but the end result is always the same, a career full of bitterness and lack of achievement.

In Akmals case his family didn't help him either, instead of guiding him they indulged him. Coach and captain don't have time to care about people too much either
There is only so much that these types of personalities can achieve.

his fans are equally retarded.
they still think Umar was wronged by others...

 

[DeadlyVenom]

his fans are equally retarded.
they still think Umar was wronged by others...

There are people ready to make excuses for players but the reality is that in today's franchise world even a wronged player can get picked up somewhere in the world or try to play overseas in USA.

Nobody wants to touch players like Ahmed Shezad, Umar Akmal....they then lie and say they don't wanna play abroad and make a big sacrifice for Pakistan.

It is easy to assess talent and make big claims about players online but many people don't understand that perceptions are a big deal and if a player doesn't know how to behave a coach or captain is their mama or papa who will run to change their nappies. They will boot them and tell them to do one.

 

[Major]

There are people ready to make excuses for players but the reality is that in today's franchise world even a wronged player can get picked up somewhere in the world or try to play overseas in USA.

Nobody wants to touch players like Ahmed Shezad, Umar Akmal....they then lie and say they don't wanna play abroad and make a big sacrifice for Pakistan.

It is easy to assess talent and make big claims about players online but many people don't understand that perceptions are a big deal and if a player doesn't know how to behave a coach or captain is their mama or papa who will run to change their nappies. They will boot them and tell them to do one.

agree. I think Quettas Gladiators Omar Nadeem was the last guy to give these two an olive branch, and they had the gal to even bash him aswell in media lol
Served Omar Nadeem right

 

[ElRaja]

he was super talented but as @DeadlyVenom says, hes got mental issues, they could have been sorted if dealt with early on in his career, instead he got pulled from pillar to post from being a proper batsman to a slogger, the degradation of his game in the year after he made his debut was alarming, it could only happen if he was actively modifying his game on the advice of others.

eventually he ruined himself and the bitterness creeped in, cos it was obvious he didnt know what he was supposed to be. he needed support and guidance, but thats something in short supply in pakistani cricket, he should have never have batted below four.

salman butt, shan masood, shoaib malik, theres plenty of batsmen who got to play a lot more tests than him with poorer stats. yes he was crazy, but its a case of "khuch shehr dai lok vi zalam san, khuch sanu maran da shauk vi si".

 

[Savak]

The likes of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal kept creating controversy and getting into trouble with the coaches authorities. The reality is that the 2016 T20 WC game against NZ where they played so slowly after the start Sharjeel provided sealed their fate and Waqars subsequent report.

UA then became fat, out of shape legside hack. These players kept thinking that the PCB and the Pakistani Cricket System would keep giving them chances, how wrong they proved to be.

Both players should be poster boys for examples where when you get the chance to play for your country, make the most of it because in retirement you will be filled with regrets.

 

[Major]

he was super talented but as @DeadlyVenom says, hes got mental issues, they could have been sorted if dealt with early on in his career, instead he got pulled from pillar to post from being a proper batsman to a slogger, the degradation of his game in the year after he made his debut was alarming, it could only happen if he was actively modifying his game on the advice of others.

eventually he ruined himself and the bitterness creeped in, cos it was obvious he didnt know what he was supposed to be. he needed support and guidance, but thats something in short supply in pakistani cricket, he should have never have batted below four.

salman butt, shan masood, shoaib malik, theres plenty of batsmen who got to play a lot more tests than him with poorer stats. yes he was crazy, but its a case of "khuch shehr dai lok vi zalam san, khuch sanu maran da shauk vi si".

He was never a top 4 player. Top 4 players are those that can build an innings.

Even if he thought he was, he should had proven himself in domestic cricket.

Younis khan was also garbage in limited overs, but kept the top 4 position as he had the ability to play longer innings.

People assume umar was a top 4 position player just becaubecause of his slogs, but almost everytime he threw his wicket away.

Every captain he played under, identified him as an unreliable wicket thrower....

His issues wwere already there in the first year he played, especially during the england series. He had a purple patch during the start of his first 6 months and everyone i remember was going gaga on him.

So any issues he had no one wanted to critisize or fix him. Just like how everyone went gaga on Saim Ayub

 

[ElRaja]

He was never a top 4 player. Top 4 players are those that can build an innings.

Even if he thought he was, he should had proven himself in domestic cricket.

Younis khan was also garbage in limited overs, but kept the top 4 position as he had the ability to play longer innings.

People assume umar was a top 4 position player just becaubecause of his slogs, but almost everytime he threw his wicket away.

Every captain he played under, identified him as an unreliable wicket thrower....

His issues wwere already there in the first year he played, especially during the england series. He had a purple patch during the start of his first 6 months and everyone i remember was going gaga on him.

So any issues he had no one wanted to critisize or fix him. Just like how everyone went gaga on Saim Ayub

He came into the test team with 1,200 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 70 or so. He hit big hundreds and double hundreds. How many young Pakistani batsmen do well on their first tour of England? despite all his issues he had, he ended his carer with a first class average of 45. im not talking about ODIs, im talking about tests, where he got far less chances than a lot of potentially inferior players.

 

[Major]

He came into the test team with 1,200 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 70 or so. He hit big hundreds and double hundreds. How many young Pakistani batsmen do well on their first tour of England? despite all his issues he had, he ended his carer with a first class average of 45. im not talking about ODIs, im talking about tests, where he got far less chances than a lot of potentially inferior players.

He got exposed in international, especially during the 2010 England series. I think the only game where he performed was the innings that Pakistan had to play after the whole fixing saga got reported and no one was even serious playing that day.

The only young batter that stood up in that series was Azhar Ali.

Even during our back to back Australia series (along with him faking an injury after his brother lost us that test), he was just lingering and made some poor scores.

Only his debut series was a good one.

Guy was exposed. Plus that test side went on to become no.1 with the limited test matches it played. There was no way passengers like Umar were going to be added.

Younis, Misbah and Azhar were doing well in the upper order. And this is where the whole Umar fan brigade argument losses out. They know that the no.3, 4 and 5 spots were booked with better players, the only spot available was no.6. So if Umar didnt do well at that spot, the excuse would had been oh that is not his spot. And Asad Shafiq was doing quite well when he came into the test side.

The keeping spot was the only one left, and cause Umar didnt want to do that full time, we rotated with Adnan and Sarfraz and eventually our test side did quite well.

 

[mominsaigol]

He was never a top 4 player. Top 4 players are those that can build an innings.

Even if he thought he was, he should had proven himself in domestic cricket.

Younis khan was also garbage in limited overs, but kept the top 4 position as he had the ability to play longer innings.

People assume umar was a top 4 position player just becaubecause of his slogs, but almost everytime he threw his wicket away.

Every captain he played under, identified him as an unreliable wicket thrower....

His issues wwere already there in the first year he played, especially during the england series. He had a purple patch during the start of his first 6 months and everyone i remember was going gaga on him.

So any issues he had no one wanted to critisize or fix him. Just like how everyone went gaga on Saim Ayub

The reason people go gaga over these 2 is due to techniques and reactions.

Its very rare for someone so young to have a well developed technique and reactions.

We can see someone like sam konstas struggling with this at age 19. Even Harry Brooks lacks a defensive technique vs spin which is why he's poor in asia on spinning dens.

These 2 had their fundamentals covered. But obviously technique + reactions alone aren't enough. You need to be smart enough to

A) Understand field placements
B) force bowlers to bowl to your strengths
C) Have the temperament to respect good deliveries especially in test cricket and resist the urge to play certain deliveries especially on the offside
D) Have the stamina and fitness to grind it out

^^ All things umar lacked.

It was the same with Ahmed Shehzad, good technique and reaction tomes but consistently got stuck due to his inability to actually rotate strike.

 

[ElRaja]

He got exposed in international, especially during the 2010 England series. I think the only game where he performed was the innings that Pakistan had to play after the whole fixing saga got reported and no one was even serious playing that day.

The only young batter that stood up in that series was Azhar Ali.

Even during our back to back Australia series (along with him faking an injury after his brother lost us that test), he was just lingering and made some poor scores.

Only his debut series was a good one.

Guy was exposed. Plus that test side went on to become no.1 with the limited test matches it played. There was no way passengers like Umar were going to be added.

Younis, Misbah and Azhar were doing well in the upper order. And this is where the whole Umar fan brigade argument losses out. They know that the no.3, 4 and 5 spots were booked with better players, the only spot available was no.6. So if Umar didnt do well at that spot, the excuse would had been oh that is not his spot. And Asad Shafiq was doing quite well when he came into the test side.

The keeping spot was the only one left, and cause Umar didnt want to do that full time, we rotated with Adnan and Sarfraz and eventually our test side did quite well.

azhar ali should have opened (im not saying this in hindsight, i always thought he was too defensive at 3, and did far better when he was opening, theres load of posts where i reiterated this) and umar should have been given a chance in the top 4. he might still have failed, but the way his career was handled at test level was terrible.

 

[Major]

The reason people go gaga over these 2 is due to techniques and reactions.

Its very rare for someone so young to have a well developed technique and reactions.

We can see someone like sam konstas struggling with this at age 19. Even Harry Brooks lacks a defensive technique vs spin which is why he's poor in asia on spinning dens.

These 2 had their fundamentals covered. But obviously technique + reactions alone aren't enough. You need to be smart enough to

A) Understand field placements
B) force bowlers to bowl to your strengths
C) Have the temperament to respect good deliveries especially in test cricket and resist the urge to play certain deliveries especially on the offside
D) Have the stamina and fitness to grind it out

^^ All things umar lacked.

It was the same with Ahmed Shehzad, good technique and reaction tomes but consistently got stuck due to his inability to actually rotate strike.

Ahmed Shezad issues was that he allowed fame get into his head from u19 cricket. He had all the shots, was a 360 player, but didnt know where and when to use what shot.

If Shezad was just a leg side hitter or a one dimensional player and had a straight head, he would done well

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Ahmed Shezad issues was that he allowed fame get into his head from u19 cricket. He had all the shots, was a 360 player, but didnt know where and when to use what shot.

If Shezad was just a leg side hitter or a one dimensional player and had a straight head, he would done well

To be honest Ahmed was maybe misused
He could have been a solid test opener...but tried too hard to land in the Afridi camp and become a LOI player. He wasn't ever good enough for that...but he could have been excellent in tests particularly in UAE

 

[JaDed]

Umar Weekly Meltdown should be a show.

 

[JaDed]

The reason people go gaga over these 2 is due to techniques and reactions.

Its very rare for someone so young to have a well developed technique and reactions.

We can see someone like sam konstas struggling with this at age 19. Even Harry Brooks lacks a defensive technique vs spin which is why he's poor in asia on spinning dens.

These 2 had their fundamentals covered. But obviously technique + reactions alone aren't enough. You need to be smart enough to

A) Understand field placements
B) force bowlers to bowl to your strengths
C) Have the temperament to respect good deliveries especially in test cricket and resist the urge to play certain deliveries especially on the offside
D) Have the stamina and fitness to grind it out

^^ All things umar lacked.

It was the same with Ahmed Shehzad, good technique and reaction tomes but consistently got stuck due to his inability to actually rotate strike.

Let me be that person, Jaiswal vs Shehzad who do you think was better at that age?

 

[mominsaigol]

Let me be that person, Jaiswal vs Shehzad who do you think was better at that age?

Theirs no true way to answer this.

If I say Jaiswal you will agree but mock me for hating jaiswal, If I say shehzad you will use stats and records to claim I'm delusional .

Shehzad being talented doesnt mean he's a messiah. Shehzad isnt even a toothpick in terms of talent compared to other Pakistani cricketers.

In terms of pure raw talent Saeed Anwar and Yousaf were unmatched but miandad and YK(test) were better due to a greater understanding of the game, more mental resilience and a constant love for the format they specialised in hence the need to improve

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Umar Akmal during recent media interaction

"International cricket has always been my top priority. I gave up major leagues to serve Pakistan. But today, I regret those decisions because I never imagined I’d be treated like this. I don’t understand the reason behind it, nor do I know who in the PCB thinks I shouldn't be playing cricket,"

"I'm willing to say it on camera — there are players who seriously damaged Pakistan’s image and were punished for it, yet they are now key members of the national team,"

"I had faced an issue with my NOC before as well, and even then I suffered a significant loss. When the media offered a bit of support, I was asking for an NOC from the 12th to the 25th, but I was given the NOC on the night of the 20th. After that, it was a very difficult decision for me. The way my contract was ruined is extremely unfair,"

"I have applied for another NOC now, but I can’t understand why they haven’t issued it yet. It’s obvious that if I’m going to play in a league, it’s ICC-approved. If it weren’t, why would I even apply?"

"What hurts me the most is that the people in PCB who have the authority in such matters are themselves former cricketers — and for them to act like this despite being cricketers is deeply shameful for me,"

"I’ll have to do it. Right now, I’m not that old — my age is such that I still have time. I can’t just shoot myself if I’m not getting to play for Pakistan. There are players older than me who are still in the Pakistan team and playing in leagues,"

"They’re getting NOCs, but I’m not. So if I come forward with proof in front of the media, then you all can decide for yourselves — and the public will too. That would make me feel much better,"

Delaying Umar Akmal's NOC sounds more like the common 'bribe or be denied' thing. Otherwise I don't see any reason why his NOC would be blocked or delayed (by PCB), he is not in reckoning for any international cricket at all.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

In 2009, Umar Akmal was the best young talent in the world.

Better than Virat, Steve Smith, Kane

No, he wasn't. Umar Akmal was overrated, he had talent but he lacked game sense that is needed to succeed.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Ahmed Shezad issues was that he allowed fame get into his head from u19 cricket. He had all the shots, was a 360 player, but didnt know where and when to use what shot.

If Shezad was just a leg side hitter or a one dimensional player and had a straight head, he would done well

Ahmed Shehzad was more suited to Test cricket (where he averaged 40) but his test career was destroyed due to nepotism and favoritism. Ahmed Shahzad test opening spot was taken by Shan Masood who kept it ever since without any consistency in performance (he averaged below 30 or barely 30 his entire career) and is somehow the test captain as well.

 

[kingusama92]

Like I said in the Ihsanullah thread, while politically incorrect Intikhab Alam was always right when describing Pakistani cricketers.

Umar Akmal falls under the same umbrella.

Total waste of talent because of his low mental capacity and attention-seeking behaviour.

 

[Major]

To be honest Ahmed was maybe misused
He could have been a solid test opener...but tried too hard to land in the Afridi camp and become a LOI player. He wasn't ever good enough for that...but he could have been excellent in tests particularly in UAE

Na thats just an assumption.

Alot of times when we see players having a high avg in one format and is dropped we think he would had been good in that format.

Shezad lacked any defense, and in UAE against spin he was never gonna survive.

Its like Yasir Hameed. Good avgs, but got figured out due to his habit to fish the ball

 

[mominsaigol]

Na thats just an assumption.

Alot of times when we see players having a high avg in one format and is dropped we think he would had been good in that format.

Shezad lacked any defense, and in UAE against spin he was never gonna survive.

Its like Yasir Hameed. Good avgs, but got figured out due to his habit to fish the ball

Whether he would have failed or not we do not know but one thing is for certain, His test spot was taken away by Shan Masood who used his PR powers to force Misbah's hand.

Its not the first time shan did this. I have issues with imam but numerous times babar got calls from higher ups to tell the press that imam or Fakhar were injured as Shan must play in odi cricket.

Shan is the worst player to represent Pakistan in test cricket. Literally no one backed him as a player even during pre captaincy. Everyone thought he'd be some goated captain but that fell flat as soon as he randomly declared for 400 allowing Bangladesh to reach 500 despite both saud and rizzu being primed for 200 each and taking PK to 700.

And allowed Bangladesh to take a lead from 26/6.

The fact that Shan in the previous cycle averages 37 is being seen as an achievement shows how much his fans are willing to delude themsleves into believing it is the right call.

 

[salman24]

Another wasted talent that PCB could not manage. He had himself to blame as well but I think the PCB could have utilized him better and handled him better.