Stop making Umar Akmal a scapegoat for the loss in the first ODI

[saabir]

This is Umar first match of the tour. He was not part of test squad. The pitch was double paced as per faulkner. It always very hard to make your comeback especially in Australia. Why most of the people only critising Akmal. Name a single batsman from pak who played fluently in this game may be only Babar to some extent. Even Azhar Ali who is in australia for the past one month was finding very hard to play shots. What has Sharjeel, Hafeez, Rizwan , Nawaz , Azhar did . Umar was very nervous he was making comeback in ODI after WC I guess. I think Umar should be allowed to play all 5 matches in the series in the top 4. if he would not perform then discard him from the side & give some youngster a chance

 

[Asim2Good]

Yes sir, I agree with u

Hopefully Umar is enjoying Punjabi Bhangra music after match.

 

[Shafi]

Yeah!!! Even in BPL he was one of worst batsman in the team and here we are playing him against team no.1.
Absolute rubbish batman who only knows how to slog few against weak bowling in flat tracks.

 

[saabir]

He is passing through very tough phase in his career. He needs strong backing . He is out of form at the moment. He still got decent stat in ODI.avg mid 30 with 80+ SR

 

[ask_analyse_act]

so funny to watch him do a afridi slog (close the eyes and swing the bat) at starc which he missed it and the very next ball good proper cricket shot to the cow corner along the ground for 4... what was he thinking while batting is bigger question to ask the slogmal..

 

[Seamer]

There's no slot available for him in top 6. He should be at 5 for next match

1. Azhar Ali
2. Sharjeel Khan
3. Babar Azam
4. Malik
5. U Akmal
6. Rizwan

If Azhar Ain't available Malik should be captain and Babar should open.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

An awful cricketer.

Needs to be removed for good.

 

[Slog]

An awful cricketer.

Needs to be removed for good.

As Ive said

Must be the only cricketer in the world for whom logic works in opposite ways

He performs poorly and disappoints us incessantly but that is why he should be given a run up the order.

 

[Indiafan]

He is passing through very tough phase in his career. He needs strong backing . He is out of form at the moment. He still got decent stat in ODI.avg mid 30 with 80+ SR

And the best place to find your form back is international cricket, of course. A country should only select out of form players for every tour

 

[Markhor]

If you have the "talent" tag in Pakistan, no amount of poor form can not be forgiven.

 

[Abdullah719]

He looked terrible through out the innings. Played leg-side hoicks all the time, Babar was looking a class above.

Give him the series and get rid of him if he doesn't do anything.

Lacking temperament, still. He's 26 years old, needs to figure out his game or just stick to being a slogger in T20 leagues.

 

[omorst7]

Yeah!!! Even in BPL he was one of worst batsman in the team and here we are playing him against team no.1.
Absolute rubbish batman who only knows how to slog few against weak bowling in flat tracks.

And was benched for last few matches by his BPL team !! But selected for pak!!! Don't know why!!! As I can't follow all pak domestic fixtures!! I don't know really why!! But as far as I know Kamran or may be sehzad may get a call!!! Does Umar out performed them in some leauges which I didn't follow!!!!

 

[cricwiz]

This is Umar first match of the tour. He was not part of test squad. The pitch was double paced as per faulkner. It always very hard to make your comeback especially in Australia. Why most of the people only critising Akmal. Name a single batsman from pak who played fluently in this game may be only Babar to some extent. Even Azhar Ali who is in australia for the past one month was finding very hard to play shots. What has Sharjeel, Hafeez, Rizwan , Nawaz , Azhar did . Umar was very nervous he was making comeback in ODI after WC I guess. I think Umar should be allowed to play all 5 matches in the series in the top 4. if he would not perform then discard him from the side & give some youngster a chance

When was the last time Umar Akmal won a game on his own while chasing against a formidable side (i.e. a scenario where top order fails, Akmal comes to the rescue and wins it for Pakistan chasing a 250+ total)??? If he hasn't done that in the past how do u think he will do that in next 4 matches (or even 400)???

 

[saabir]

The problem is his replacement are not good either. If I remember correctly he scored a match winning hundred against Afghanistan & saved pak from an embarrassment. He played some match winning knocks in wc 2011. U name a single player from Pakistan who has single handedly won a much for Pakistan recently. For all the hates Afridi being a slogger won many matches single handedly & some by Razzak. Other than those I cnt recall any great knock by Pakistanis against top sides in recent times

 

[saabir]

Pakistan domestic circuit is even worst.players generally regressed in domestic circuit. Selectors need to identify pool of talent then back them to perform

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He should have performed in domestics before being selected.I dislike Shehzad and his antics but atleast he has performed in the domestic season.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

The problem is his replacement are not good either. If I remember correctly he scored a match winning hundred against Afghanistan & saved pak from an embarrassment. He played some match winning knocks in wc 2011. U name a single player from Pakistan who has single handedly won a much for Pakistan recently. For all the hates Afridi being a slogger won many matches single handedly & some by Razzak. Other than those I cnt recall any great knock by Pakistanis against top sides in recent times

Which 'match-winning knocks' did he play in the 2011 WC?

 

[ask_analyse_act]

There's no slot available for him in top 6. He should be at 5 for next match

1. Azhar Ali
2. Sharjeel Khan
3. Babar Azam
4. Malik
5. U Akmal
6. Rizwan

If Azhar Ain't available Malik should be captain and Babar should open.

why push babar around the batting order... send the arrogant hafeez to open and expose his batting facet to the max...getting out to faulkner at slips, will not survive one over of starc with the new ball...

 

[Square Drive]

Thoroughly disappointed with that shot.

Still seems to be his old reckless self, and while the talent will always remain, his temperament is simply lacking; I say this as one of his biggest supporters.

Even came in at #5 yesterday.

Give him the entire series at this same position and if he doesn't put up a good show, feel free to drop him.

Still back him for tomorrow.

 

[KingKhanWC]

He has a decent record against Australia, give him the whole series before judging him.

 

[aloo paratha]

Never merited a spot in the first place.

 

[Hasan123]

I would say give him till the end of the series before passing judgment but I understand the criticism aimed at him. All these years playing international cricket and he still doesn't seem to have learnt the basics of batting.

I am a fan of his but he has no one to blame for his failutures other than himself. Blaming Waqar,Misbah,selectors, batting positions shows that he doesn't take responsibility and that is shown in his batting during his Pakistan career.

 

[muqarrab]

Yeah!!! Even in BPL he was one of worst batsman in the team and here we are playing him against team no.1.
Absolute rubbish batman who only knows how to slog few against weak bowling in flat tracks.

He is 26 and his problem is decision making. Others players have matured while umar akmal is the benjamin button of international cricket. He is one of the best batting talents to come out of pakistan in the last 10 years, but because of his decision making he doesn't belong at the international stage.

 

[Barragan]

Not a great start, but still 4 games to go.

Play him at no. 4 and back him for this series.

 

[Indiafan]

He has a decent record against Australia, give him the whole series before judging him.

People are obviously judging him on the shots he played. No amount of talent or past success can help him if he plays brain dead shots across the line

 

[KingKhanWC]

People are obviously judging him on the shots he played. No amount of talent or past success can help him if he plays brain dead shots across the line

Playing across the line is meant when the ball is full and you are expected to play with a straight bat (as per coaching).

He got a short ball outside off stump. He could have left it, step to cut towards third man or pull it to the leg side. He chose the pull shot, badly executed.

It can be argued it was poor shot selection due to the bounce of the pitch but in limited overs it's a scoring shot. Maybe he should have left but was one of almost all batsmen who played a false shot.