How can Umar Akmal not open for this lineup?

[Rana]

This team selection is so strange. There are guys who can't clear the 30 yard circle in the first 6 overs batting in the top 4. How can Inzi, Mickey and Sarfaraz justify Ahmad Shahzad's ineptness whereas drop one of the few clean hitters in UA?

 

[Gotham Cronie]

He's too busy opening the refrigerator

 

[Rana]

He's too busy opening the refrigerator

Since when did that ever matter for a guy who needs to strike the ball and has a track record of hardly ever dropping a catch?

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Lol, didn't take long.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Since when did that ever matter for a guy who needs to strike the ball and has a track record of hardly ever dropping a catch?

Looks like it mattered this past PSL

 

[Slog]

I've always maintained that the best way for a Pakistani player to improve his stock and better his reputation is to be dropped for a while.....

 

[ExpressPacer]

I've always maintained that the best way for a Pakistani player to improve his stock and better his reputation is to be dropped for a while.....

A very short while this time around.

 

[mhraja]

When will we have enough of the Akmals.

 

[fasihulhaq94]

well didn't even take a week for the 'bring back back supreme talent king umar akmal' threads to crop up

 

[ExpressPacer]

How many more failures will it take for you to accept he cannot play for this team. His score would not have been different to that of his brothers. Can't open. Can't play in the middle. Can't play in the lower order either.
Also, PCB is doing what any team would, his fitness is not up to the mark.

 

[Rana]

How many more failures will it take for you to accept he cannot play for this team. His score would not have been different to that of his brothers. Can't open. Can't play in the middle. Can't play in the lower order either.
Also, PCB is doing what any team would, his fitness is not up to the mark.

So many people have been calling for this for ages now. Do we have a single opener in Pakistan that matches modern cricket standards? Yes UA has been dissapointing everywhere but he is still a much better striker of the ball compared to all of the rubbish being used up the order.

 

[sshakir411]

Akmal mafia at it again. Seems like they're not happy with Kamran being the only disappointment in this team.

 

[Syed1]

I've always maintained that the best way for a Pakistani player to improve his stock and better his reputation is to be dropped for a while.....

I completely concur..

 

[Big Mac]

Basically, Umar Akmal fans live in a Trump-esque world of alternative facts and shifting goalposts in which they rapidly shift from one incoherent argument to another in the hopes that readers are overwhelmed by the sheer deluge of nonsense and succumb to "Maybe you have a point".

First it was wicket keeping that was negatively affecting his game. Except his batting figures are better when he has the gloves than when he plays as a specialist batsman.

Then it was a case of Umar being wasted at #6 or #7, how could he possibly succeed in that role when he's not suited for it? Except his batting figures are better when batting lower in the order than it was higher up.

Then it was "Look at the first season of the PSL! He batted in the top order and he was amazing! Told you guys he was best against the new ball!" Except he only batted at #3 when the openers had seen off the new ball and batted for 10 overs or more. He never batted at #3 when an early wicket fell.

Then it was Misbah's defensive captaincy holding him back, "look at how New Zealand play under McCullum, Umar would be world class under a captain like that". He's playing under McCullum and he's still the same old Umar Akmal.

So now it's "Umar needs to be opening the innings" but let's be honest, we all know what will happen if he becomes an opener.

I wonder if all of that would fit in my sig, would save time having to repeat it.

 

[Pete Rose]

Have we done the fitness and weight jokes yet? Because then I have nothing to add

 

[cricketInsight]

Umar Akmal doesnt open for any domestic or league teams. Dont expect him to do that for the National team. Yes, it could be tried but our team management is not very experimental.

 

[Rana]

Umar Akmal doesnt open for any domestic or league teams. Dont expect him to do that for the National team. Yes, it could be tried but our team management is not very experimental.

Once again your completely missing the point. Tell me all of those openers in domestic and other leagues that can do a better job than what we currently have? And then tell me Umar Akmal isnt likely to match or do better than what they have to offer.

And when did KP ever open for any league or domestic side when England had him opening in the UAE, where he scored tons of runs? That move was obviously in an attempt to promote the modernity of the game by sending up their cleanest hitter to take full advantage of the power plays

 

[cricketInsight]

Once again your completely missing the point. Tell me all of those openers in domestic and other leagues that can do a better job than what we currently have? And then tell me Umar Akmal isnt likely to match or do better than what they have to offer.

And when did KP ever open for any league or domestic side when England had him opening in the UAE, where he scored tons of runs? That move was obviously in an attempt to promote the modernity of the game by sending up their cleanest hitter to take full advantage of the power plays

I am not missing your point. I said that he could be tried as an opener but the team management doesnt see him as an opener because he doesnt do it at any level. As i said in the text you quoted, management is not very experimental - just look at Shadab coming to bat today after Tanvir.