Umar Akmal fails fitness test but is subsequently awarded captaincy of Punjab for the Pakistan Cup

[Muhammad10]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So a player who couldn't pass a PCB fitness test is a few days later appointed as a captain for Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/844258606405095425">March 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan cricket is clearly devoid of any justice, logic, merit or accountability.

I recall a similar reward for Shehzad after he was dropped from international cricket due to indiscipline.

Where's the accountability for these wannabe "superstars"? The special treatment they receive only aids them in their quest to remain deluded with regard to their lowly stature as cricketers.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Meritocracy, is that so much to ask for?

 

[Mamoon]

A ridiculous decision. Ideally, he shouldn't have been picked in this tournament in the first place because if you are not fit, you are not fit. There is no such thing as being fit for international cricket and being unfit for domestic cricket. Unless we take fitness in domestic cricket seriously, we will not improve. However, giving him the captaincy is simply unjustifiable.

 

[Syed1]

Meritocracy, is that so much to ask for?

Yes it IS too much to ask for since NS and SK weren't appointed on merit by You-know-who

 

[Saj]

And this is why Pakistan cricket and PCB is a laughing stock.

 

[shaz619]

Well nothing can be done now, lets hope this new found responsibility makes him a better

 

[msb314]

Not sure about Umar Akmal's domestic form but it is probably not good due to his fitness and PSL form.

Poor decision to award him captaincy - unless the PCB had faith he will turn his career around and appointed him captain of Punjab to "test the waters"...

 

[MMHS]

Excellent choice by PCB - now his last excuse is covered as well. Come on Umar - OPEN the innings & take the challenge. Sharjeel is gone - that spot is to grab.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Excellent choice by PCB - now his last excuse is covered as well. Come on Umar - OPEN the innings & take the challenge. Sharjeel is gone - that spot is to grab.

If he opens and gets out cheaply. He'll end up saying, "dekhein maine pehli baar opening ki hai ball bohot swing ho rahi thi. Mujhe nhn pata wahan kia ho raha tha."

 

[Arsalan Pro]

This is the standard of Pakistan Cricket.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Thats why our domestic cricket is a joke where merit is probably the last on the list.

 

[mhraja]

Just show how serious we take fitness at domestic level.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

And that is Pakistan Cricket for you.

 

[Speedster777]

You still don't get it that Akmals, hafeez, malik, misbah, tanvir, younis are not going anywhere no matter how much damage they cause us and how crap they play they have the money and connections to remain in the team. Umar akmal ki selection ki sarish PM house say aai thi for Aussie series. They're like a plague in our set-up. Then we talk about punishing Sharjeel, Salman Butt, Asif and Khalid Latif who've done much less damage than these guys.

 

[Speedster777]

Unless there's a drastic change where the entire PCB is disbanded and replaced with an adhoc set-up of honest and well intentioned people the future of Pak cricket is bleak. Most probably we would be relegated to these wannabee super stars playing with C grade overseas players in domestic leagues while in international cricket we would compete with Zimbabwe and Kenya.

 

[MMHS]

If he opens and gets out cheaply. He'll end up saying, "dekhein maine pehli baar opening ki hai ball bohot swing ho rahi thi. Mujhe nhn pata wahan kia ho raha tha."

He has to be given every chance to make a come back & this one I am serious. He is 26, may be 27-29 but definitely not more than that - still has 15 years left in career (this one also on serious note). A full comited Umar Akmal at full flow is twice the player than any one PAK can put to bat now.

May be he needs some good, honest people around. Having elder brothers in national team & a national ATG as father in law isn't helping him. I'll definitely watch Punjab matches to see his changes.

Butt could be crooked, but he wasn't fool - I agree with him - there must be something beyond Yo yo result for dropping him, at least for a 20 over match that doesn't need must stamina or endurance; rather outburst of power in a short span, which he has plenty.

I think, he has been given some target & added responsibility in this PAK Cup - if he passes, he'll go to CT17 for sure. It's more with his cricket than fitness - don't think any coach or selector would ever drop a batsman who can win a match only on fitness ground. Specially by someone like Inzi, who'll never pass Yo yo.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

He has to be given every chance to make a come back & this one I am serious. He is 26, may be 27-29 but definitely not more than that - still has 15 years left in career (this one also on serious note). A full comited Umar Akmal at full flow is twice the player than any one PAK can put to bat now.

May be he needs some good, honest people around. Having elder brothers in national team & a national ATG as father in law isn't helping him. I'll definitely watch Punjab matches to see his changes.

Butt could be crooked, but he wasn't fool - I agree with him - there must be something beyond Yo yo result for dropping him, at least for a 20 over match that doesn't need must stamina or endurance; rather outburst of power in a short span, which he has plenty.

I think, he has been given some target & added responsibility in this PAK Cup - if he passes, he'll go to CT17 for sure. It's more with his cricket than fitness - don't think any coach or selector would ever drop a batsman who can win a match only on fitness ground. Specially by someone like Inzi, who'll never pass Yo yo.

Umar Akmal doesn't have the brain to succeed. It's simple. He can't think like you or me. Look at wahab riaz's snapchat and you'll know what other Pakistani cricketers think about chota Akmal. He doesn't realize that what he does on twitter is stupid, even after people troll him. Akmal can't succeed, period.

 

[hitthestump]

A ridiculous decision. Ideally, he shouldn't have been picked in this tournament in the first place because if you are not fit, you are not fit. There is no such thing as being fit for international cricket and being unfit for domestic cricket. Unless we take fitness in domestic cricket seriously, we will not improve. However, giving him the captaincy is simply unjustifiable.

Great post.

 

[phoenix363]

In terms of standards, an unfit Umar Akmal is not good enough for international but is more than good enough for a domestic tournament.

It then comes down to whether it sends the right signal/is fair/ is smart to allow someone who has just failed a fitness test/ clearly has an attitude problems and is refusing to work hard, to become the captain. Perhaps the board has weighed those cons up against the possibility that dropping him completely will likely mean the end of his career if he cannot even play domestic. However, this opportunity provides him a chance, no matter how slim it is, to show some responsibility and turn his career around. True, he has been given ample opportunity, but Pakistan is not exactly blessed with batting resources and before regressing, he was one of the best prospects in world cricket. Keep him far away from the International team where you need to maintain the fitness standards and professionalism, however he needs to be in a position where he has a chance to improve and meet these criteria.

There is also a separate point where McCullum mentioned during the PSL that he was impressed with UA's match awareness and the way he leads the team on the field and could see potential as a captain.

 

[Citizen4]

Umer got a 7 ball duck today, leading from the front

 

[waleed88]

Answer is easy, he is still chosen one of Punjab Quota system...