[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Faisal Akram: International Performance Watch

[FearlessRoar]

Faisal Akram is a Pakistani cricketer. He was named to Southern Punjab's squad for the 2021–22 National T20 Cup, where he made his Twenty20 debut on 24 September 2021. Faisal was later selected for Pakistan's team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. In December 2021, he was signed by the Karachi Kings for the 2022 Pakistan Super League. He made his List A debut on 6 March 2022 for Southern Punjab in the 2021–22 Pakistan Cup.

Faisal made his first-class debut for Pakistan Television on 22 December 2023, against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in the 2023–24 President's Trophy. In 2024, he was signed by the Multan Sultans for the 2024 Pakistan Super League.

Faisal Akram made his international debut for Pakistan on 24 November 2024 against Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Faisal Akram expressed excitement at making his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI while talking to PCB Media:

"First of all, I thank Allah a lot that today is my debut and I am very excited for this. Like every player, my dream was to play for Pakistan and represent the country, and now, finally, that dream is coming true."

"I started playing cricket just like every other player, in the streets with a tennis ball, and then joined a club, the Al-Kawari Cricket Academy, where my career began. After my under-16 selection, I performed well, then continued in the under-19s and later performed well in domestic cricket, and then played in the PSL for Multan Sultans."

"Finally, today, I am going to play for Pakistan, and I am extremely excited."

The biggest support I received throughout my career came from my elder brother, Bilal Akram, and my father, who backed me during both the ups and downs of my career. There was a time when I completely lost faith in cricket after under-19s because I had a gap in my career and wasn’t playing domestic cricket, but my brother motivated me to keep going."

"My message is that you all should pray for the Pakistan team and for us to perform as well as we can in this series."

 

[FearlessRoar]

Faisal Akram expressed excitement at making his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI while talking to PCB Media:

"First of all, I thank Allah a lot that today is my debut and I am very excited for this. Like every player, my dream was to play for Pakistan and represent the country, and now, finally, that dream is coming true."

"I started playing cricket just like every other player, in the streets with a tennis ball, and then joined a club, the Al-Kawari Cricket Academy, where my career began. After my under-16 selection, I performed well, then continued in the under-19s and later performed well in domestic cricket, and then played in the PSL for Multan Sultans."

"Finally, today, I am going to play for Pakistan, and I am extremely excited."

The biggest support I received throughout my career came from my elder brother, Bilal Akram, and my father, who backed me during both the ups and downs of my career. There was a time when I completely lost faith in cricket after under-19s because I had a gap in my career and wasn’t playing domestic cricket, but my brother motivated me to keep going."

"My message is that you all should pray for the Pakistan team and for us to perform as well as we can in this series."

And on his debut, he took a brilliant 3/24 against Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI, which helped bowl out the opposition for 205.

 

[gazza619]

Wish these young kids realise that you may not go a long way as a bowler, if you are a number 11 batter.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Pakistan’s bowlers have dominated so far in the ongoing match against AS, reducing them to 64/7 after just 10 overs. Faisal Akram has been the most effective, claiming two wickets for only 9 runs in his two overs at a miserly economy of 4.50.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Faisal Akram held his nerve in the final over, taking two key wickets to seal Pakistan Shaheens’ thrilling 1-run victory against Nepal in match 30 of Top End T20 series.

 

[Rana]

He’s a much better fielder than both Abrar and Sufyan

I think Pakistan should draft him into the final 15 for the AC

 

[Rana]

8 runs needed in the final over with 5 wickets in hand

Man gave only 6 runs and defended it. Brilliant!

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I’ve tracked his progress across all 6 matches in the Top End series and he’s either always contributed and sometimes made a big difference. If a player shows a consistent level of good to great performance, now that’s an international player.

I don’t expect him to be called up, but I absolutely can see him getting opportunities after the Asia Cup

 

[RidiculousMan]

I’ve tracked his progress across all 6 matches in the Top End series and he’s either always contributed and sometimes made a big difference. If a player shows a consistent level of good to great performance, now that’s an international player.

I don’t expect him to be called up, but I absolutely can see him getting opportunities after the Asia Cup

In my view he's on track to become a complete all format bowler and should be backed as our next big Test wrist spinner.

 

[shariqnoor]

If a spinner can spin the ball, then he's automatically better than all of the non-spinners that have been stealing a living in cricket. First Imad conned the whole country with his non-existent spin and rubbish darters and now Sufyan Muqeem is threatening to do the same.

Anybody who cannot spin the ball should never be allowed to play international cricket. Goes for all teams. You either learn to spin or become a fast bowler. There should be no room for this darting nonsense.

Saw a bit of Faisal Akram today and he's already much better than Sufyan. Puts revs on the ball and can bowl the leg-spin and googly at ease. I like him much more than Sufyan. His control is lacking but that can be bettered by him playing lots of FC cricket. Get him to bowl 25 overs in a day in FC and get him to play 30 FC matches. I'm sure he'll become a very good bowler for Pakistan if he does that.

If you try and fast-track him into the Pakistan team without him having put in the hard yards of 4-day domestic cricket, you will lose a decent talent.

 

[RidiculousMan]

If a spinner can spin the ball, then he's automatically better than all of the non-spinners that have been stealing a living in cricket. First Imad conned the whole country with his non-existent spin and rubbish darters and now Sufyan Muqeem is threatening to do the same.

Anybody who cannot spin the ball should never be allowed to play international cricket. Goes for all teams. You either learn to spin or become a fast bowler. There should be no room for this darting nonsense.

Saw a bit of Faisal Akram today and he's already much better than Sufyan. Puts revs on the ball and can bowl the leg-spin and googly at ease. I like him much more than Sufyan. His control is lacking but that can be bettered by him playing lots of FC cricket. Get him to bowl 25 overs in a day in FC and get him to play 30 FC matches. I'm sure he'll become a very good bowler for Pakistan if he does that.

If you try and fast-track him into the Pakistan team without him having put in the hard yards of 4-day domestic cricket, you will lose a decent talent.

Imad is one of the greatest T20I spinners for Pakistan. I don't understand why people have to put down a player for one format because he is not great or doesn't play the other.

Imad during his time till 1st retirement was amazing. Even in WT20 2024 with the ball. His economy rate is incredible for a spinner.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Agree. How could one not adore Imad with new ball

Imad is one of the greatest T20I spinners for Pakistan. I don't understand why people have to put down a player for one format because he is not great or doesn't play the other.

Imad during his time till 1st retirement was amazing. Even in WT20 2024 with the ball. His economy rate is incredible for a spinner.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Agree. How could one not adore Imad with new ball

People don't remember how good he was in that era under Sarfraz. Literally the reason why we were so good in that period was also because of his cunning bowling in the powerplay.

 

[Ball Blazer]

good time to try him tomorrow in final ODI vs SL

 

[BouncerGuy]

Makes a comeback in the ODI squad after a long time... Getting a game as well now..

Don't miss the boat boy

 

[BouncerGuy]

Faisal gets his first wicket of the game... Caught and bowled Kamindu... His tight spell is making things difficult for the opposition... Good stuff

 

[hks222]

Faisal gets his first wicket of the game... Caught and bowled Kamindu... His tight spell is making things difficult for the opposition... Good stuff

He also bowled some freebies but SL didnt make us.

 

[BouncerGuy]

1st wicket on home soil for Faisal

 

[hks222]

Magic ball to get rid of onset batter.

Amazing debut

 

[Ball Blazer]

 

[stani_pak]

He bowled so beautifully, some good spin options for pak in abrar, sufiyan, and faisal akram, but I rate akram the highest, needs to be backed.

 

[Abid Z]

In my view he's on track to become a complete all format bowler and should be backed as our next big Test wrist spinner.

Agree with this. He’s developed incredibly well since the South Africa tour 10 months ago. Then he looked so weak the you’d wonder if the ball would ever reach the batsman.

Now he looks sharp. Not afraid to give loop and drift has control and good turn. I know it’s a subcontinental wicket and there is the odd loose ball but I would say he’s a must for the England tests next year.

 

[hur rizvi]

Abrar and Faisal should be playing alongside Noman in future home tests

 

[BouncerGuy]

Faisal certainly bowled well.. All these guys (abrar, sufiyna, faisal) should be around the squad and used as per need... Not one of them can be scrapped here... They are the future... Abrar is already a permanent member, so these 2 guys can be groomed alongside him.

 

[zahid01]

Abrar and Faisal should be playing alongside Noman in future home tests

Noman is to old he cant bowl long spells anymore against south Africa second test he was knackered

 

[gazza619]

Abrar and Faisal should be playing alongside Noman in future home tests

A bit unfair on Sajid though who has done a good job.

 

[Omer2002]

A bit unfair on Sajid though who has done a good job.

lets be honest not to take anything away from the oldies but if you make such spinning wickets when matches are over in 3 days then any spinner should be able to take wickets and thus nouman and Sajid have been doing.

 

[gazza619]

lets be honest not to take anything away from the oldies but if you make such spinning wickets when matches are over in 3 days then any spinner should be able to take wickets and thus nouman and Sajid have been doing.

Fair point. The one thing that could prolong Sajid’s career is his lower order contributions with the bat.

 

[hks222]

Can faisal bat?

 

[Omer2002]

Fair point. The one thing that could prolong Sajid’s career is his lower order contributions with the bat.

Correct but that is the reason we drew the test series.Nouman sajjad hasan ali and shaheen are all good bats yet in 4 inn8ngs their highest score was 8 yet saffers made more 200 with tail in 2nd test

 

[Omer2002]

Can faisal bat?

No he cant bat at all unfortunately

 

[Abid Z]

Fair point. The one thing that could prolong Sajid’s career is his lower order contributions with the bat.

Sajid is not old. He’s a seasoned professional and handy with the bat.

 

[Abid Z]

Faisal certainly bowled well.. All these guys (abrar, sufiyna, faisal) should be around the squad and used as per need... Not one of them can be scrapped here... They are the future... Abrar is already a permanent member, so these 2 guys can be groomed alongside him.

There is no doubt they are good bowlers but they are terrible fielders and useless with the bat. Even out and out bowlers like warne or Anderson can hold up an end.

I think the important thing to note for these 3 spinners is they have the novelty factor right now but that alone is not enough for test cricket though it can buy you wickets in the shorter format.

They need to demonstrate immaculate control to be contenders for test cricket. Abrar has some of the worst test figures for a test spinner (Yasir too). So in reality you look at all 4 bowlers and all rounders and see how they will develop from series to series.

But no doubt Pak have 3 absolute gems. Now trust the management to mess it up.

 

[Omer2002]

why isnt Faisal playing in the current Quaid matches yet Hasan Nawaz and Talaat were playing

 

[hur rizvi]

A bit unfair on Sajid though who has done a good job.

Sajid was way below par in SA series and one of the reasons we lost second test

 

[hur rizvi]

why isnt Faisal playing in the current Quaid matches yet Hasan Nawaz and Talaat were playing

Should be playing next round. Him being with odi team could be the reason