Umar Akmal going the Mohammad Sami route

[Savak]

After a massive bang start to his career from 2009 to 2011-12 he is now just another TTF.

He can't play pace, he can't play spin, he can't defend properly, he can't hit reliably, there is nothing in his game apart from leg side hoicks. Honestly feel that we have far better options than him in the PSL.

 

[PakLFC]

He is finished at international Cricket like his bro, Kamran. Had enough chances to get his act together repeatedly letting the team down with his silly antics. Time to move on, Pak does not need these troublesome, cheating and overrated Akmal brothers.

 

[Markhor]

Yet his fans were crying out for his selection after one half decent one day tournament. Some are too quick to say a player has "turned a corner", especially in Akmal's case.

We need to see at least one whole domestic season's worth of consistent performance and fitness before he's even considered for re-selection. And even then I'd prefer to see newer options in contention for a national team place than going back to a guy who's had over hundred caps.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He’s further down the M.Sami route than M.Sami is down the M.Sami route.

 

[TeymurBlake]

He has regressed quite rapidly hasn't he. He has the talent and ability to be a solid batsman, unfortunately he lacks the brain to be a good batsman.

 

[Syed1]

He is fat and unfit and cannot even play a non-turning spinner. Even in the last match where he played a "cameo" he had three skiers that would have been caught had the man running after them not been Sohail Tanvir in all three catches.

 

[Cric1234]

He will be inconsistent in t20 all batsmen are in ODIs and tests he's well capable of doing well if selected in the top order.

 

[ads101]

Can't handle the pressure. Overeats/eats bad food, sign of response to stress. Can't handle himself well in the media, oversensitive to criticism. In crunch moments resorts to slogging as can't calm himself down to think properly thus predetermines his shots too much. And the fact that he's constantly been reminded he's such a big talent it's extra pressure.

Even in his international career, he often performed when the pressure was off, someone else was at the other end to guide him.

It's kind of sad really.

 

[carbon11]

He was crap right from his beginnings in Australia ,

When the hype machine started

Muhammad yusuf said to kamran when they were sitting in dressing room whilst umar was batting in his debut series in Australia that he is technically rubbish and will never succeed as a top batsmen , so yousaf saw the shortcomings with his game straightaway

 

[last_knight]

Umar Akmal was never a batsman. He is a slogger who is aesthetic occasionally.

 

[dhump]

Well he made his own route, but honestly I was shocked to see this thread today I imagined this was a non fact since good 4 years or so.

 

[Slog]

Mohammad Sami has definitely had a better career than Umar Akmal so far

 

[The_Odd_One]

Umar Akmal has fooled everyone by making them think he was a talented batsman who regressed with time. The truth is that he has been always mediocre.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Mohammad Sami was the spearhead for Pakistan for two-three years. Very good LOI bowler in his early days. Didn't have the brains for test cricket, and that ultimately cost him his place in the Pakistan team.

Akmal has been a disappointment throughout his career. His brother Kamran is 10x the batsman he is. Doesn't say much though since Kamran himself is pants.

 

[waqar goraya]

There is nothing right with Umar Akmal. Technical and temperament issues aside; he is fat, reckless and has a poor attitude towards the game. There is no hunger to excel or to do well.

Sami has always tried to give his best, he never could have control over his line and length but he has kept himself fit over the years. Umar on the other hand can't even keep himself fit, i watched him against spinners yesterday and today, he could not even shift his weight according to the length of the ball.

He is lucky that LQ are paying him so lavishly with this attitude and fitness levels.

 

[Kaka4pope]

Watching Sami over last couple of years, respect the fact his pace is still up there. Can’t help put feel with better nurturing he could’ve had a lot more prominent a career for Pakistan.

Great to see him still crank up the pace though...

 

[Markhor]

Watching Sami over last couple of years, respect the fact his pace is still up there. Can’t help put feel with better nurturing he could’ve had a lot more prominent a career for Pakistan.

Great to see him still crank up the pace though...

Yeah this is harsh on Sami.

Mohammad Sami has had a better international career and has won more matches for Pakistan. I criticised him a lot back in the day because he conceded too many extras and could be brainless, wilt under pressure and expensive.

But he always tried his heart out and still operates at a decent pace well into his 30s. Maybe he could've been managed better, he did have some injuries, but what a waste of talent.

 

[Slog]

Yeah this is harsh on Sami.

Mohammad Sami has had a better international career and has won more matches for Pakistan. I criticised him a lot back in the day because he conceded too many extras and could be brainless, wilt under pressure and expensive.

But he always tried his heart out and still operates at a decent pace well into his 30s. Maybe he could've been managed better, he did have some injuries, but what a waste of talent.

Also the age old Pakistani problem of not differentiating between formats

Have a terrible few test series and you are dropped altogether even if you are doing well in ODIs. And vice Versa

Also he can thank a certain Mr. Kamran Akmal

 

[asma_cricfan]

M. Sami is not the only cricketer who was hard fone, overlooked, badly treated, and victim of injustice.
It was supposed to be kamran to be dropped after he dropped catches, but sami was sidelined.

This is why pakistan is in this state because of the injustice.

Now come to the route:
Umar was never talented enough to be hyped that much. As someone wrote that M. Yousaf realized early that umar has not much of technique.

Sami was and is a hard worker all his career. An honest scandal free cricketer shall not be even named with a person and player like umar akmal.

 

[MMHS]

It’s a shameful comparison for Sami. Guy was extremely unlucky that most part of his entire career was under bots - Waquar, Latif, Ul Haq, MoYo, Misbah - people who are extremely defensive (for WY timid as well - because he was not making XI as Captain first) and safety first captains. A bowler like ke Sami won’t give them that safety that Rao Ifthekhar or Rama Naved or Gul will give.

Besides, these are hardly bowlers, hardly played in tournaments dominated by fast bowlers (County) - they misused Sami. They often used a fast bowler capable of classic clocking 155k in his 3rd spell of the day as a stock bowler. Captains like Mushi, Asif, Imran, Zaheer, Javed or Wasim would have given him max 16 overs a day - 5+3+3+4/5 (in ODI 5+3+2) and would have asked him to go absolute flat out, no matter how much CG he leaks, just knock 2/3 top order before settling down.

Sami hardly got the chance he deserved - still his ODI stats are faaaaar better than just about getting 125 games in 12 years. On contrary, Umar is the blessed child of PAK cricket - despite all those issues & antics, he had been backed by every coach, Selector until Arthur threw the towel - enough is enough. I do appreciate Sami for his love & persistence in the game - still carrying on & carrying on well for the shorter format, which his body allows.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Umar Akmal has taught everyone a lesson: you can be the most talented, but if you do not work hard or do not possess the mind to understand tactics/strategy you will just never reach the top. The reason he showed promise but never could get there.

Hopefully he will be able to earn enough money for his family by playing in leagues here and there.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Mohammad Sami is still on route of his own


17 years of Professional Cricket and bottling continues.

5 wickets in last match including a hat-trick and today he lost the match for Khi from winning position.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

“The way we judge talent is wrong. I think making the best out of whatever ability you are born with is a talent in itself” - Rahul Dravid

 

[Pakhs]

Simple problem UK had was this! he was blessed with lot of talent but no brain to go with it. Unfortunately some brain is needed even to just play cricket and maximizing your talent. Without the lack of brain he has been self destructing. What is really sad is nobody decided to help him.

 

[Justcrazy]

It’s a shameful comparison for Sami. Guy was extremely unlucky that most part of his entire career was under bots - Waquar, Latif, Ul Haq, MoYo, Misbah - people who are extremely defensive (for WY timid as well - because he was not making XI as Captain first) and safety first captains. A bowler like ke Sami won’t give them that safety that Rao Ifthekhar or Rama Naved or Gul will give.

Besides, these are hardly bowlers, hardly played in tournaments dominated by fast bowlers (County) - they misused Sami. They often used a fast bowler capable of classic clocking 155k in his 3rd spell of the day as a stock bowler. Captains like Mushi, Asif, Imran, Zaheer, Javed or Wasim would have given him max 16 overs a day - 5+3+3+4/5 (in ODI 5+3+2) and would have asked him to go absolute flat out, no matter how much CG he leaks, just knock 2/3 top order before settling down.

Sami hardly got the chance he deserved - still his ODI stats are faaaaar better than just about getting 125 games in 12 years. On contrary, Umar is the blessed child of PAK cricket - despite all those issues & antics, he had been backed by every coach, Selector until Arthur threw the towel - enough is enough. I do appreciate Sami for his love & persistence in the game - still carrying on & carrying on well for the shorter format, which his body allows.

I remember that once Pakistan were about seven down for 100 odd runs on board , and sami made some runs . Dean Jones was commentator , he was talking about Sami temperament with bat.

With the bat also Sami was pretty good , and he was one of the best fielders among the bowlers in Pakistan. In OD he should have had a better career. With such a short run up could really generate lot of pace. Also , had a very good bouncer , it was well directed and 95 % times Batsmen had to play that

 

[Pete Rose]

Simple problem UK had was this! he was blessed with lot of talent but no brain to go with it. Unfortunately some brain is needed even to just play cricket and maximizing your talent. Without the lack of brain he has been self destructing. What is really sad is nobody decided to help him.

We can only hope that Umar Akmal is a little more honest with himself than what this states. Many people tried to help him, he doesn’t want to learn

 

[coy0607]

It’s a shameful comparison for Sami. Guy was extremely unlucky that most part of his entire career was under bots - Waquar, Latif, Ul Haq, MoYo, Misbah - people who are extremely defensive (for WY timid as well - because he was not making XI as Captain first) and safety first captains. A bowler like ke Sami won’t give them that safety that Rao Ifthekhar or Rama Naved or Gul will give.

Besides, these are hardly bowlers, hardly played in tournaments dominated by fast bowlers (County) - they misused Sami. They often used a fast bowler capable of classic clocking 155k in his 3rd spell of the day as a stock bowler. Captains like Mushi, Asif, Imran, Zaheer, Javed or Wasim would have given him max 16 overs a day - 5+3+3+4/5 (in ODI 5+3+2) and would have asked him to go absolute flat out, no matter how much CG he leaks, just knock 2/3 top order before settling down.

Sami hardly got the chance he deserved - still his ODI stats are faaaaar better than just about getting 125 games in 12 years. On contrary, Umar is the blessed child of PAK cricket - despite all those issues & antics, he had been backed by every coach, Selector until Arthur threw the towel - enough is enough. I do appreciate Sami for his love & persistence in the game - still carrying on & carrying on well for the shorter format, which his body allows.

Great post, no comparison between the two in terms of treatment

U Akmal is very connected, and was given more opportunities than most. Sami on the other hand was a smart bowler who was generally a high character guy on and off the field.

Don't forget, it took U Akmal calling a press conference and going after the sitting coach who had just won the CT, for him to be totally cut from the national scene. Not to mention all his other off field incidents

Sami never came close to doing anything so stupid.

 

[Savak]

Sorry but you cant conclude that a guy who has played 50 plus test matches and 100 plus ODI's did't get enough chances. If he is dependent on a captain for performances then that is a problem. Guys like Akhtar, Gul, Rao, Rana Naveed and co played under the same captains and fielders but they still performed and won matches for their country.

 

[Itachi]

Sorry but you cant conclude that a guy who has played 50 plus test matches and 100 plus ODI's did't get enough chances. If he is dependent on a captain for performances then that is a problem. Guys like Akhtar, Gul, Rao, Rana Naveed and co played under the same captains and fielders but they still performed and won matches for their country.

Dude you yourself are the OP