The dramatic fall from grace of Umar Akmal

[Savak]

Everyone who saw him in 2009-10 rated him as the best and the most exciting prospect in the Pakistani batting line up. Even in 2010-12 when he was dropped from the test team, people did feel he was hard done by and felt he was the best modern Pakistani ODI batsman who was batting for too low in the batting order. He used to average close to 40 at one point in time in ODI's.

I am just petrified by how his work ethic has completely eroded and the fact that there is absolutely no desire at all from him to rescue his Cricketing career.

He was dropped from the ODI and T-20 teams in 2015, he then got recalled in T-20's but bottomline is that he was no longer a permanent member of the team in all the formats of the game. This means his pockets were seriously hit and you would imagine that a reasonable person would in this situation work hard behind the scenes in domestic cricket in the T-20 leagues around the world in order to be considered elligible for selection and to win back his place in the side but no what does out "talented" batsman do, gets into fights, controversies, eats away rather than working hard on his fitness and batting.

He was just now dropped from a Cricketing tour and was clearly told that he was being dropped on Fitness grounds. Any reasonable person in this situation would work on his fitness behind closed doors and bring it up to international standard. But no what does UA do? He turns up unfit for the next international tour he gets selected for.

If he is indeed not fit upto international standard then why did his domestic team not bench him in the domestic ODI tournament? Why did the NCA officials not catch his lack of match fitness?

And what nerve from him to show up for international duty in such an unfit state without any shame or embarrasment at all?

The PCB should be tempted to seriously fine and ban his sorry *** for this entire debacle. Absolutely disgraceful.

 

[Tusker]

Everyone who saw him in 2009-10 rated him as the best and the most exciting prospect in the Pakistani batting line up. Even in 2010-12 when he was dropped from the test team, people did feel he was hard done by and felt he was the best modern Pakistani ODI batsman who was batting for too low in the batting order. He used to average close to 40 at one point in time in ODI's.

I am just petrified by how his work ethic has completely eroded and the fact that there is absolutely no desire at all from him to rescue his Cricketing career.

He was dropped from the ODI and T-20 teams in 2015, he then got recalled in T-20's but bottomline is that he was no longer a permanent member of the team in all the formats of the game. This means his pockets were seriously hit and you would imagine that a reasonable person would in this situation work hard behind the scenes in domestic cricket in the T-20 leagues around the world in order to be considered elligible for selection and to win back his place in the side but no what does out "talented" batsman do, gets into fights, controversies, eats away rather than working hard on his fitness and batting.

He was just now dropped from a Cricketing tour and was clearly told that he was being dropped on Fitness grounds. Any reasonable person in this situation would work on his fitness behind closed doors and bring it up to international standard. But no what does UA do? He turns up unfit for the next international tour he gets selected for.

If he is indeed not fit upto international standard then why did his domestic team not bench him in the domestic ODI tournament? Why did the NCA officials not catch his lack of match fitness?

And what nerve from him to show up for international duty in such an unfit state without any shame or embarrasment at all?

The PCB should be tempted to seriously fine and ban his sorry *** for this entire debacle. Absolutely disgraceful.

what baffles me is how his inner circle ( family/friends/coaches) do not do anything about it or (perhaps) have no say in the matters. Surely they have enough wisdom and authority between them to see how UA is bent on completely wasting his career and do something about it ? Very strange situation.

 

[Slog]

"He should never have been dropped from the test team. He would have been world class by now"

"He is very talented and our most aggressive batsman. Who cares about fitness when it doesn't help your batting?"

"There's a witch hunt against Akmal"

 

[Syed1]

Akmal was always a mediocre cricketer. He just performed well in 2009 other than that he has been nothing spectacular. He seemed "andhoon mein kana raja" in an ODI batting lineup that comprised Misbah, Younis, Hafeez and Shafiq. As soon as we replaced the ultimate tuk tuks it became crystal clear that Akmal was the worst batsman in the side and hence found himself dropped. Even if Akmal had pristine fitness today he has a batting average in the early 20s in the last three years with one fifty and a highest score of 59.

On merit he doesn't even deserve to be in the second eleven. Unfortunately, he always make it to the squad because of a certain quota.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

"He should never have been dropped from the test team. He would have been world class by now"

"He is very talented and our most aggressive batsman. Who cares about fitness when it doesn't help your batting?"

"There's a witch hunt against Akmal"

میری لندن تو کیا پاکستان میں بھی کوئی پراپرٹی نہیں ہے۔


I hope you haven't picked these lines from Lahore Dynamite thread


If Yes than that was a Bullet Drive

[UTUBE]5G9tDU7BsDU[/UTUBE]​

 

[Moiza]

What baffles me is that he doesn't even take this as a serious job. Im sure UA won't be earning much once his career ends but he seems to hardly care for any thing beside sirri paye.

We'll have someone in this thread who despite everything will still ask for UA to open.

 

[Hamza_]

What baffles me is that he doesn't even take this as a serious job. Im sure UA won't be earning much once his career ends but he seems to hardly care for any thing beside sirri paye.

We'll have someone in this thread who despite everything will still ask for UA to open.

He has earnt enough, And he is a superstar. May as well pluck some from PSL.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

What baffles me is that he doesn't even take this as a serious job. Im sure UA won't be earning much once his career ends but he seems to hardly care for any thing beside sirri paye.

We'll have someone in this thread who despite everything will still ask for UA to open.

Good Point.


Now the campaign for opening has begun for the other UA

 

[phoenix363]

Akmal was always a mediocre cricketer. He just performed well in 2009 other than that he has been nothing spectacular. He seemed "andhoon mein kana raja" in an ODI batting lineup that comprised Misbah, Younis, Hafeez and Shafiq. As soon as we replaced the ultimate tuk tuks it became crystal clear that Akmal was the worst batsman in the side and hence found himself dropped. Even if Akmal had pristine fitness today he has a batting average in the early 20s in the last three years with one fifty and a highest score of 59.

On merit he doesn't even deserve to be in the second eleven. Unfortunately, he always make it to the squad because of a certain quota.

I would disagree. Umar when he first burst onto the scene was nothing short of amazing. As close to the finished article as you can have for a young batsman.

In fact, I would say he was our most talented batsman since Yousuf or Inzamam with even more potential than those two.

Could play aggressively but also build an innings. No real weakness against pace or spin. The Aussies were still the best side and he spanked them multiple times. Played a brilliant innings against a rampaging Bond and Vetori on a difficult pitch.

However this just goes to show how crucial temperament and attidude is. Give him half of what Shan has in his head and he would become an ATG. Alas, it is evident now that he will never change and should be discarded from International cricket for a long time.

 

[captain crook]

It is all his doing. He has no one but himself to blame. Yes, it's really sad but hey, welcome to life.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

He had some talent but was nowhere close to as good as people think.

 

[phoenix363]

He had some talent but was nowhere close to as good as people think.

Really? On what basis?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

His attitude has been the major reason of this epic fall.

 

[JibranAnsari]

He isnt growing up (only his waistline) , he made his debut 8 years ago you would expect a professional attitude from him but i think he is just a bit dim and its not his fault.

 

[Itachi]

Someone should bump up the Akmal vs Kohli thread.

One went to become captain of the team and other one can't find a spot in the team.

Lesson to learn. Don't take anything taken for granted. If you do, time will punish you harder than anyone.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Two words - WORK ETHIC !!

If you don't value this in your life, you will not make it in any field of profession IN THE WORLD.

Just ask any legitimately successful person (in any walk of life) on how they achieved it and 99% of the time they will reply with Hard Work and commitment.....

The same is true for professional cricket and I am sorry to say this but Umar Akmal has ZERO WORK ETHIC OR ANY SORT OF COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE.

 

[Mamoon]

These are humiliating times for Umar. He got dropped from the WI squad before he had failed the fitness test, and now he has been sent packing from England for the same reason. In addition, there are reports that he had a run-in with the management in England because he was being treated 'unfairly'.

I won't be surprised if he announce an impulsive, Afridi-style retirement from international cricket, only to take it back after a few months when the dust settles. In any case, it is time for him to take a complete break from cricket for a year or two. He is not going anywhere at the moment form and fitness wise. He has lot the plot mentally.

 

[ChinMusic]

he was ok for talent, we have had worse players play a lot more cricket than him (Farhat, Haffez to name a couple) but his main problem was his attitude.... he had done abs nothing and suddenly we saw his brokering his brother into a test match by declaring himself unfit. score a single century and the collars go up, lip-balm comes out and the poking and sledging starts... i am all for having a style and attitude but perform on the ground otherwise u r just crap-nack for the fans... throwing away matches and blaming on others is all what he is good at.... the kind of tumour that should not be allowed near any pak team, international, domestic or PSL... the sooner lahore qalandars get rid of him, the better.

 

[hafizexpress]

I remember when he was top 10 in the ODi batting rankings :'(

 

[Saj]

I have a feeling that there is more to all this than him failing a fitness test.

Something else has happened and the management are just mentioning fitness to protect him.

 

[Hasan123]

A sad decline but this is a lesson. When you don't take fitness seriously you can see the affects. Also refusing to improve and having a bad attitude in general doesn't get you very far.

 

[PakLFC]

There has been no fall in regards to U Akmal. He was always just another overrated batsman who excited a certain section of Pak supporters. Never had temperament or the ability to stand up and play a match winning innings consistently when it really mattered.

 

[PakLFC]

There has been no fall in regards to U Akmal. He was always just another overrated batsman who excited a certain section of Pak supporters. Never had temperament or the ability to stand up and play a match winning innings consistently when it really mattered. There is hardly any Pak player who does not have fitness issues.

 

[Princejain191]

I genuinely think stupidity or low IQ is the reason why Umar Akmal has reached this stage.

Don't remember him playing much smart cricket on the field. Yes, a good slogger on his day but unless you can consistently play the big shots, you are just another Afridi. Not sure if he ever inspired confidence for the Pakistan fans when he was on the crease but he always was a hit-or-miss batsman to me. And if his social media is anything to go by, a lot of people should agree on the 'stupidity' part.

 

[Savak]

I have a feeling that there is more to all this than him failing a fitness test.

Something else has happened and the management are just mentioning fitness to protect him.

I was watching some Twitter feeds and apparently Arthur had enough of Akmal's attitude. I don't blame him, how would any other professional coach react when a player arrives extremely unfit on a tour, that players get dropped for the next tour and is explicitly told to improve his fitness if he wants to come back into the team and the player still has the nerve to turn up unfit for the next tour he gets recalled for.

 

[Savak]

I mean how hard is it to be fit really. I know people who are absolutely busy professionals in the working world, in the Corporate Sector where they have to work for 10 and sometimes 12 hours a day and these guys also have wives, and kids to attend too. But still these guys take time out for excercising 1-2 hours in the gym lifting weights, doing cardio, swimming e.t.c, these guys still indulge in the odd cheat meals every now and then but are very fit for their ages

In comparison UA is a professional sportsman who has the means, resources to devote a good 3-5 hours daily to his fitness and skills training both with plenty of time to tend to other commitments, responsibilities in his life. No excuses really.

 

[asma_cricfan]

Still he managed to play almost 200 international matches for pakistan and become rich with playing/helping pak in only 10% of matches.

 

[Bilal7]

His attitude has held him back from what could have been a very good international career. A sad tale.

 

[Slog]

Its anything but dramatic

Its been a consistent process

 

[asma_cricfan]

After seeing all his mujras, he had anything but grace. The worst investment so far by PCB and still he have the central contract making around 250000 rupees per month without even exercising.

 

[Mp812]

Remember reading in some cricinfo article that Akmal socred his first ODI hundred ...months before Kohli got his first ODI century.
Now Kohli has 25 ODI 100s to his name. UA i guess 2-3 I dont even remember.
Batting position does play a role in it but the number of collapses Pakistan has had since 2011 UA should have had atleast 10 ODI centuries

 

[Belawal2014]

After seeing all his mujras, he had anything but grace. The worst investment so far by PCB and still he have the central contract making around 250000 rupees per month without even exercising.

You can criticise Umar Akmal the cricketer but wrong to take shots at Umar Akmal the person.

 

[Saj]

As one young cricketer who is close to an international call-up said to me this week about Umar Akmal "he has no discipline, he has no morals, he doesn't care, because he keeps getting selected".

 

[Monsee]

As one young cricketer who is close to an international call-up said to me this week about Umar Akmal "he has no discipline, he has no morals, he doesn't care, because he keeps getting selected".

Maybe he should try running for a seat as a politician, and leave cricket alone

 

[Savak]

As one young cricketer who is close to an international call-up said to me this week about Umar Akmal "he has no discipline, he has no morals, he doesn't care, because he keeps getting selected".

I will take what this young cricketer close to an international call up says with a pinch of salt because i assume he hasn't made his debut yet, he hasn't been exposed to the big money involved in Cricket, the life style that you get exposed to in Cricket and therefore there is no saying on how this young player in question will handle the fame, adulation, money and other temptations he will get exposed too.

 

[msb314]

These are humiliating times for Umar. He got dropped from the WI squad before he had failed the fitness test, and now he has been sent packing from England for the same reason. In addition, there are reports that he had a run-in with the management in England because he was being treated 'unfairly'.

I won't be surprised if he announce an impulsive, Afridi-style retirement from international cricket, only to take it back after a few months when the dust settles. In any case, it is time for him to take a complete break from cricket for a year or two. He is not going anywhere at the moment form and fitness wise. He has lot the plot mentally.

If he does that - he will decline further and drift further into mediocrity. He doesn't seem like the person who can maintain his motivation being away from the team.

He is finished....

 

[MenInG]

Looks in good shape in this picture of himself

 

[JibranAnsari]

Looks in good shape in this picture of himself

View attachment 74303

Doesn't look 91 kgs for a 5.6 guy .

 

[Markhor]

Umar Akmal been picked up by the Afghan T20 league.

Obviously privately-owned franchises are entitled to sign any player they want however it signifies how Akmal never faces any real consequences for his screw-ups.

He's dropped from the national team, captains Punjab in the Pakistan Cup. Fails fitness test in England, but will still pick up a paycheck for a T20 league. What's the incentive for him to change ?!

When Monty Panesar had disciplinary issues recently, he didn't even get a county contract let alone a callup from a T20 league.

 

[Chokli]

What could have been

 

[criclove34]

Pakistan should have tried him as opener.. he is still best against pace for Pakistan... for modern LOI he never developed him.

Avg of 35 with strike rate of 85 is better then most cricketers for pakistan

 

[Chokli]

Great article by cricinfo describing Umar Akmal career. Such a shame it has been, he is a repeated disappointment.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/1099488.html

Umar is a complicated guy then eh

 

[criclove34]

Haris Sohail (PAK) 5 5 1 291 130 72.75 339 85.84
Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) 5 4 0 231 115 57.75 244 94.67
Umar Akmal (PAK) 5 5 0 150 48 30 170 89.23
Imad Wasim (PAK) 5 5 3 141 50* 70.5 115 122.6
Abid Ali (PAK) 2 2 0 112 112 56 120 93.33


Imam, Shan, Malik not to be found in top 4 batsmen in the series..

Batting at no. 6 average of 30 and strike rate of 90 is reasonable.. We have to raise above our biases.. Asif or Akmal are must for modern cricket...

Current AUS PAK Series.

 

[Savak]

Haris Sohail (PAK) 5 5 1 291 130 72.75 339 85.84
Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) 5 4 0 231 115 57.75 244 94.67
Umar Akmal (PAK) 5 5 0 150 48 30 170 89.23
Imad Wasim (PAK) 5 5 3 141 50* 70.5 115 122.6
Abid Ali (PAK) 2 2 0 112 112 56 120 93.33


Imam, Shan, Malik not to be found in top 4 batsmen in the series..

Batting at no. 6 average of 30 and strike rate of 90 is reasonable.. We have to raise above our biases.. Asif or Akmal are must for modern cricket...

Current AUS PAK Series.

We need both Asif and Umar in the lower order for hitting at the death provided the accumulators at the top do their job.

 

[Stewie]

Yaar what hitting at the death? Umer akmal, If he is lucky he can maybe score 30 off 28 on average these days.. that’s just terrible performance.. just take a look at his scores and SR in the Aussie series

 

[Muhammad10]

Haris Sohail (PAK) 5 5 1 291 130 72.75 339 85.84
Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) 5 4 0 231 115 57.75 244 94.67
Umar Akmal (PAK) 5 5 0 150 48 30 170 89.23
Imad Wasim (PAK) 5 5 3 141 50* 70.5 115 122.6
Abid Ali (PAK) 2 2 0 112 112 56 120 93.33


Imam, Shan, Malik not to be found in top 4 batsmen in the series..

Batting at no. 6 average of 30 and strike rate of 90 is reasonable.. We have to raise above our biases.. Asif or Akmal are must for modern cricket...

Current AUS PAK Series.

Sort it by average, and he doesn't even make the top 5. He has done nothing to make a case for World Cup selection. Even his strike rate was inferior to Imad, Rizwan and Abid's.

 

[Saj]

I'm no psychologist but I've had long chats with Umar over the years and told him off as well as told him in no uncertain terms to sort himself out. All to no avail - it's like it goes in one ear and out the other. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has tried to talk sense to him.

 

[iPakistani]

View attachment 89978


Sort it by average, and he doesn't even make the top 5. He has done nothing to make a case for World Cup selection. Even his strike rate was inferior to Imad, Rizwan and Abid's.

Umar Akmal has 9 more runs than Imad and has faced 55 more balls. Wow.

 

[criclove34]

Imad has 3 not outs...also what is noted PAK lack of 6 hitting abilities. WORST RATIO in CRICKET

 

[Savak]

I'm no psychologist but I've had long chats with Umar over the years and told him off as well as told him in no uncertain terms to sort himself out. All to no avail - it's like it goes in one ear and out the other. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has tried to talk sense to him.

This approach only works when there is a very powerful influential person doing the telling off. Coming from you, me or any X, Y, Z with no authority obviously it will be brushed aside

 

[JibranAnsari]

Ability wise he is still up there amongst the best pakistan has , but you couple it with his dimwit and we have a below average performer. He is currently the only batsman in pakistan who not only can rotate the strike well but also can hit the ball long. Only if he had a normal brain he could have been a very good batsman for pakistan.

 

[MMHS]

There can be arguments regarding his performance in this series, but no question regarding his antics, which hasn’t changed much. Sadly, his WC chances are blown (might make reserve’s list yet) and unless PAK leaves WC with 6-7 losses from preliminary stages, he might not play for PAK again!!!

 

[Saj]

This approach only works when there is a very powerful influential person doing the telling off. Coming from you, me or any X, Y, Z with no authority obviously it will be brushed aside

Seems it hasn't worked at all, with anyone speaking to him.