1AGREE
2agree
3disagree [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]..ur all arguments are based on assumptions...u should realize that akmal bros and afridi lacked work ethics.
I think, the argument is also an assumption that Afridi or Umar won't have lasted in other teams, based on what they are now (or they finished with). On straight stats, I do agree - such mediocre player won't have stayed for 20+ years; but my point is, if we are to consider Afridi/Umar for IND, AUS, SAF or ENG - then we'll have to consider how their players are groomed & how their career planning is done.
Afridi was exceptional talent, who was wasted by everyone including himself. The only reason for that is PAK is the only major cricket team that puts T20/ODI well ahead of Test cricket, which actually develops cricketer. Both Afridi & Umar's focus was distorted at very early age, before developing into a proper cricketer. Even now, everyone talks about how good a finisher A Razzaq was - but truth is, he was more that capable of becoming a cricket legend by focusing on Test cricket (not that Test is superior, but it develops cricketers). Even for that PAK side of 2000s, imagine 5 batsmen, a WK, Razzaq & Afridi at 7/8 or 8/7 and 3 specialist bowlers - both were good enough to add 100+ Tests to their fairly mediocre career & that would have made them cricket greats.
Umar's Test career is different issue, but from Australia to Uganda - he would have opened in ODI within 1/2 years of his career - that might have erased him by 2012, but could have made him another Sehwag for a decade .... unfortunately Misbah put him at 7, rest is as they say history. I don't go much by work ethics, because it's part of culture - younger PAK players were groomed from the understanding that work ethics isn't the most important thing in life to represent PAK. Don't think, if that luxury had been there in 1987, Wasim or Waquar would have run 10KM everyday ..... just for warming.
You see, almost everyone was convinced that PAK players don't know English, so it's a big problem hiring foreign Coach - but Arthur is managing fine. It's not because he learned Urdu or PAK players suddenly has scored 7.5 in IELTS ..... it's just a matter of change in moods of operation - "understanding" that these "language tricks" won't work any more & I must thank Najam Sethi for this one.
Umar's work ethics was fine, never was any issue & I can assure you that - T20 Franchise are pro organization, unlike PCB - if this guy had issues with work ethics & attitude, he won't have been the most in-demand PAK player for last few years. What happens is that, if you get away with these so easily, one day you'll face your nemesis, Mian Umar is just paying off that debt.
