A question from an outsider: Why isn't Umar Akmal considered for selection?

[Snatch]

Yes I understand he's largely under-performed considering his natural ability, but he still averages 36 with the bat with a SR of 86 in 116 games, which is better than Mohammed Hafeez.

From the opposition point of view, I'd much rather see these current Pakistan middle order than Umar Akmal, with the fear it could be his day.

Why isn't he considered good enough to make your ODI side?

 

[Smbhayi]

not sure but his last 2-3 year avg may be very bad.

 

[indipper]

Yes I understand he's largely under-performed considering his natural ability, but he still averages 36 with the bat with a SR of 86 in 116 games, which is better than Mohammed Hafeez.

From the opposition point of view, I'd much rather see these current Pakistan middle order than Umar Akmal, with the fear it could be his day.

Why isn't he considered good enough to make your ODI side?

Ego of fans and players, thinking that we got Bradmans hidden in our local bench.

 

[indipper]

not sure but his last 2-3 year avg may be very bad.

Average of 34.xx is not that bad with mixed oppositions.

 

[babajee]

I’d give him a final chance as an opener. He has every shot in the book and can dominate the bowlers.

Needs to see a sports psychologist like Shehzad though

 

[HuzaifaE]

Because we need to set a precedence that someone with deteriorating fitness levels and disciplinary problems won't be tolerated just to endure their inconsistent batting.

 

[Mr.Q]

Yes I understand he's largely under-performed considering his natural ability, but he still averages 36 with the bat with a SR of 86 in 116 games, which is better than Mohammed Hafeez.

From the opposition point of view, I'd much rather see these current Pakistan middle order than Umar Akmal, with the fear it could be his day.

Why isn't he considered good enough to make your ODI side?

+1. I've watched him bat many times and always felt that he's exceptionally talented. He's gifted with the art of timing. Walking down the wicket and hitting the ball over long on. I've seen him do that so many times and that takes a lot of talent because the batsman is pretty much entirely dependent on his timing as the feet aren't completely steady. The only problem is that he throws his wicket away playing fancy shots when his team really needs him to finish the game. He doesn't have the status of Afridi hence he got dropped. He can be developed into a great middle-lower order batsman who can do what De Grandhomme did yesterday. The fingers should be pointed at the coaching staff.

 

[Snatch]

Akmal's one of these players you want to grant a whole season to without being dropped so he can play his natural game with the knowledge he's just one of 6-7 batsmen.

From memory whenever I've watched Akmal playing for Pakistan in ODIs he was always considered the prize wicket, and always seemed to bat with more expectation than the others, like it was his last ODI.

 

[babajee]

+1. I've watched him bat many times and always felt that he's exceptionally talented. He's gifted with the art of timing. Walking down the wicket and hitting the ball over long on. I've seen him do that so many times and that takes a lot of talent because the batsman is pretty much entirely dependent on his timing as the feet aren't completely steady. The only problem is that he throws his wicket away playing fancy shots when his team really needs him to finish the game. He doesn't have the status of Afridi hence he got dropped. He can be developed into a great middle-lower order batsman who can do what De Grandhomme did yesterday. The fingers should be pointed at the coaching staff.

What do you think about the opening position just like how Rohit Sharma moved up?

 

[Snatch]

Ironically Umar Akmal would probably succeed within the NZ set-up. He'd know his role within the team, and be allowed the freedom to play naturally and to his strengths.

I think he would have flourished under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum especially, but also under Williamson.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Umar Akmal is like the kangaroo baby that just doesn't want to leave the mother pouch.

He may occasionally jump outta it, but then he will go back in it immediately after you start to believe in it.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Not fit enough. No discipline. Disrespected team coach.

Countless other stuff...

 

[Snatch]

Not fit enough. No discipline. Disrespected team coach.

Countless other stuff...

What else? Those 3 reasons all seem easily resolved.

 

[zeikz123]

umar akmal cant play in pressure situations unlike his brother kamran

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

What else? Those 3 reasons all seem easily resolved.

Coming to national TV and saying 'yeh qaom ki izzat ka sawal hai' ('this is question of nation's respect) something along those lines.

These 3 issues are NOT resolved from what I read at PP.

He should smash 100s in Pak's domestic scene to knock XI's door.

 

[Major]

he lacks fitness.

he can't convert singles into doubles or doubles in to tripples.

He relies on his shot power. Thats how he makes up his runs.

i have seen him get tired, that he starts to smack everything.

 

[Markhor]

Every six months or so, there's usually a thread asking whether Umar Akmal has turned a corner. People will trot out the "talented" line even though his output doesn't reflect this supposed incredible talent.

Let's look at the record instead of relying on cliches or getting carried away with brief purple patches. He failed in PSL2 (under McCullum's captaincy), failed in the Pakistan Cup and failed in National T20 despite playing in his FAVOURED positions so stop blaming management. In the Pakistan Cup he was CAPTAINING so are you blaming management there ?

His fans make out as if fitness is his only issue but its not as if his performance merited selection anyway. In his last two years of playing ODI cricket, he averaged 24 at a SR of 78 against the top teams - https://tinyurl.com/y936yhcn

He also failed in Australia in his last international stint. Granted he has performed well in the Departmental One Day Cup but given Akmal's past indiscretions and failures he needs to SUSTAIN this performance. He needs to have a big PSL3 and Pakistan Cup before even being thought of for selection.

I'd rather we look at untested youngsters who can bat aggressively like Hussain Talat and Sahibzada Farhan before going back to a guy who's had umpteen chances.

 

[Mr.Q]

What do you think about the opening position just like how Rohit Sharma moved up?

I wouldn't mind him opening in T20s where momentum is everything and you want your best hitters in top 4-5. If him and Fakhar gets going Pakistan will be going at 10+ runs per over which even if for a brief period of time, can turn the tide in your favour.

In ODIs though I'd prefer someone who is a bit more technically sound since you already have aggression in the form on Fakhar. Someone who can find the gaps, get the boundaries and take full advantage of the fielding restrictions would be ideal. You definitely don't want to lose 2 wickets within 10 overs. And I feel Pakistan is missing a proper finisher. A bowler who slogs won't do that very frequently. So he'd be my no. 6-7 in ODIs.

How would you manage an immature/overexcited but talented young guy? Would you kick him out of the team or would you try to inject some sense into his brain and keep him on a tight leash?

 

[MMHS]

Can’t tell about other posters, but I'll play him in my LO team everyday over Azhar & Sarfraz as well - of course subject to fitness (& that fitness isn’t measured with the same scale they are using for Sarfraz; I have one standard for all).


If I am an iron smith, I can make a knife out of a piece of rusted rot iron - and one will be able to cut at least a chicken with that knife for sure. But, even if I am the best iron smith in world, I can’t make anything better than a paper cutter from wood - be it Chandan (sandal wood). There reason - Loha, loha hoti hai or kath, kath.

I tend to back myself to streamline a naughty Umar Akmal into a LO batsman than trying to polish a good boy or an intelligent boy into one such.

Hope it explains.

 

[asma_cricfan]

I genuinely believe that he deliberately throw his wicket every time when he is in pressure situations and needed to stay on wicket and accumulate.

He is an extreme anxious player who plays best tullaybazi when there is no pressure.
Why he need to stay on crease. It takes effort, patience, commitment and dedication. Junior only look for a quick 30 runs with some tullay shots and thats it.

 

[Syed1]

In last 3 years (I think... could be 4) he averages 20 odd with only one score of 50 plus.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Because he has a poor attitude,he had poor fitness and he failed in international games over the past couple of years.

 

[Pete Rose]

Fat, poor form, mentally weak, and fighting the world

 

[Hasan123]

Lol would take him over Azhar and Sarfraz in LO. But he has a lot of work to do. Needs to stay out of controversy.

In T20s he should be at least in the squad.

 

[j_kazmi]

In last 3 years (I think... could be 4) he averages 20 odd with only one score of 50 plus.

This is the main reason. He’s had disciplinary issues aswell but the bottom line is he’s been poor over the last few years.