Umar Akmal is being missed - Pakistan don't have the power hitter required for T20Is

[MRSN]

Incredible death overs batting by Pakistan lower order once again..the last game had fluke innings from Wahab and a terrible collapse from WI but everyday is not a Sunday.

Our batting order clearly lacks a power hitter and when I say a power hitter I don't mean a hack..I mean a genuine batsman who can play proper cricketing shots. Pakistan clearly don't have power hitters required for T20s.

Malik,Baber,Sarfraz are all accumulators and then we have hopes on a hack to give us a big total. this is joke. Its totally a misfit T20 batting.You are not playing domestic teams. This is international cricket. Malik at his best can milk teams for run a ball 30,40 runs. You can't expect quick cameos from him. Similarly Sarfraz. Baber is same. You cannot have these three batting in a T20 in the middle overs. This is recipe of disaster. so much for planning and future thinking.

Pakistan need to mix firepower with anchors. and when I say firepower I don't mean hack like Fakher( sorry but he is not International class). Umar Akmal should never have been dropped. in T20s he merits the team ahead of likes of even senior players like Hafeez and Malik. If it wasn't for Shadab's brilliance we would have struggled to win one T20 with this batting.

 

[Ellipsism]

No.

How many times has he been given an opportunity and what results did it yield?

 

[Hawkeye]

Umar has disappointed me with his inconsistency lately.

But... what alternatives do we have? Shehzad? Rizwan? Fakhar? Malik? Sarfraz?

Does it still hurt to play Umar over these guys? At least Umar can hit and win you matches, even with his inconsistency.

 

[Ellipsism]

Umar has disappointed me with his inconsistency lately.

But... what alternatives do we have? Shehzad? Rizwan? Fakhar? Malik? Sarfraz?

Does it still hurt to play Umar over these guys? At least Umar can hit and win you matches, even with his inconsistency.

When has Umar ever won Pakistan a match?

 

[Saj]

Is this the once in a blue moon Umar Akmal who is obviously not fit and whose attitude seems poor and who rarely performs well for Pakistan.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

He has to get himself in shape first.

 

[Ellipsism]

Is this the once in a blue moon Umar Akmal who is obviously not fit and whose attitude seems poor and who rarely performs well for Pakistan.

The fitness test is a consipiracy theory...

 

[Pete Rose]

If the pants don't fit, then he ain't getting a hit.

 

[MRSN]

Is this the once in a blue moon Umar Akmal who is obviously not fit and whose attitude seems poor and who rarely performs well for Pakistan.

Even against Australia in Australia Umar Akmal looked million times better than batsmen in the current line up barring Baber.

 

[Abdullah719]

Even against Australia in Australia Umar Akmal looked million times better than batsmen in the current line up barring Baber.

Don't think he would have been dropped so soon after making a comeback if his fitness wasn't such a joke so he has only himself to blame.

 

[kingusama92]

The guy failed a Pakistani fitness test.

I mean that's the lowest of the lows.

 

[Ellipsism]

Pakistan cricket is in a sad state if fans are demanding for the selection of a player who's on the fringe of being obese.

 

[Big Mac]

He has to get himself in shape first.

Round is a shape

 

[Kitchlew]

Once again, umar akmal is no kohli but we need him.
But I am in the favor of the idea of him getting dropped on the basis of his fitness.
If he has poor attitude, bad discipline or whatever faults, management needs to rectify them and put him on the right path.
You just cannot discard a player like him or any player at all.

 

[Hawkeye]

When has Umar ever won Pakistan a match?

Played decently in the Aus series, nothing extraordinary though.

There are many matches where he won us, can't go through the list.

He's needed for his ability, but needs to improve fitness first.

 

[Hasan123]

Once his fitness is an appropriate standard he should always be in the t20 team.

 

[Pete Rose]

Even against Australia in Australia Umar Akmal looked million times better than batsmen in the current line up barring Baber.

He was on par with Malik and hafeez and they actually won a match.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Try Umar Akmal as an opener and see the magic.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Terrible player,shouldn't be brought back at any cost.

 

[asfandyar]

Only Shadab and Fakhar have SRs in domestic T20s that are 130+. Yet PPers 9/10 times will select an Ahmed Shahzad or Babar Azam over Umar Akmal in T20s. The thing is, in T20s, you need at most 1-2 accumulators. Sarfraz and Babar or Sarfraz and Malik need to be the only ones.

It is quite astonishing that a country that idolizes Shahid Khan Afridi, with street cricket infested with a Pathanesque tendency to hit sixes off every ball, has failed to produce a modern dynamic cricketer. Even U23 Asian tournament is filled with Imran Butts and Imam ul Haqs who fail to cross 80 in the SR column. PP's favorite Hussain Talat recently scored 37 runs at <60 SR.

Something along the lines of

Sharjeel
Shahzaib
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Malik
Umar
Shadab
Imad Wasim
Raees
Wahab
Amir

 

[KingKhanWC]

It doesn't take long to improve fitness, a week is enough.

Umar is a better T20 batsmen than Zaman, Malik, Shezhad, Kamran and Sarfraz, so most of today's batting line up.

 

[MRSN]

Pakistan cricket is in a sad state if fans are demanding for the selection of a player who's on the fringe of being obese.

I tell you whats sad is seeing Pakistan fail to score even 50 runs in last 8 overs 2nd time in a row and whats sad is witnessing hacks like Fakher Zaman and totally hopeless strike hitters like Malik,Sarfraz batting in lower order.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Pakistan has depended on Umar for finishing matches and he has dissapointed most of the times.
We should accept his shortcomings as a finisher. Play him as an opener if you want to utilize him as he can make good use of of pp overs and can play aerial shots. There will be less pressure on him as an opener and he can play his natural game there.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Umar has himself to blame, he needs of uninterrupted domestic cricket , he has been going downhill ever since his slide in first class


He also needs to stop living in denial. Bringing him back now, will only make him worse

 

[Ellipsism]

Only Shadab and Fakhar have SRs in domestic T20s that are 130+. Yet PPers 9/10 times will select an Ahmed Shahzad or Babar Azam over Umar Akmal in T20s. The thing is, in T20s, you need at most 1-2 accumulators. Sarfraz and Babar or Sarfraz and Malik need to be the only ones.

It is quite astonishing that a country that idolizes Shahid Khan Afridi, with street cricket infested with a Pathanesque tendency to hit sixes off every ball, has failed to produce a modern dynamic cricketer. Even U23 Asian tournament is filled with Imran Butts and Imam ul Haqs who fail to cross 80 in the SR column. PP's favorite Hussain Talat recently scored 37 runs at <60 SR.

Something along the lines of

Sharjeel
Shahzaib
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Malik
Umar
Shadab
Imad Wasim
Raees
Wahab
Amir

What is golden boy doing ahead of Hasan Ali?

 

[LordJames]

How many disappointments will it take to finally lose hope in UA? How many cricketing failures? How may fitness failures? How many attitude incidents with multiple coaches?

He has been a massive letdown!

 

[asfandyar]

What is golden boy doing ahead of Hasan Ali?

I mean Umar Akmal not Umar Amin.

 

[Ellipsism]

I mean Umar Akmal not Umar Amin.

Sorry?

 

[asfandyar]

Sorry?

Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Tanvir, Ahmed Shahzad, M Hafeez and Asad Shafiq are the only golden boys I know of. I thought you misunderstood Umar to be Umar Amin.

 

[Ellipsism]

Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Tanvir, Ahmed Shahzad, M Hafeez and Asad Shafiq are the only golden boys I know of. I thought you misunderstood Umar to be Umar Amin.

I was questioning why Amir was in the team ahead of Hassan Ali.

 

[asfandyar]

I was questioning why Amir was in the team ahead of Hassan Ali.

Our scoring rate per over in the last 5 T20i's has been 6.85, 6.60, 6.69, 7.12 and 8.00, and you think Hasan over Amir or vice versa will change our fortunes?

 

[Ellipsism]

Our scoring rate per over in the last 5 T20i's has been 6.85, 6.60, 6.69, 7.12 and 8.00, and you think Hasan over Amir or vice versa will change our fortunes?

Both are capable batsman but we shouldn't have the need for tail to make a contribution in T20 cricket.

 

[Rayyman]

Won't make a difference. All of the batsman in Pakistan are either medicore, or below average.

 

[Square Drive]

If he was fit, I would STILL play him in T20Is despite his inconsistencies.

But he has to atleast get fit first.

 

[Hamza78]

Never useless no different

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Pakistan has depended on Umar for finishing matches and he has dissapointed most of the times.
We should accept his shortcomings as a finisher. Play him as an opener if you want to utilize him as he can make good use of of pp overs and can play aerial shots. There will be less pressure on him as an opener and he can play his natural game there.

If Umar can do one good thing for himself, then play himself as an opener in the upcoming one day cup.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Try Umar Akmal as an opener and see the magic.

The only magic you will see is another magical excuse for his non performance.

 

[Hawkeye]

The only magic you will see is another magical excuse for his non performance.

Really? How is it different from not performing that too at pathetic strike rates, i.e. current batsmen? At least most of them ?

 

[Ellipsism]

I tell you whats sad is seeing Pakistan fail to score even 50 runs in last 8 overs 2nd time in a row and whats sad is witnessing hacks like Fakher Zaman and totally hopeless strike hitters like Malik,Sarfraz batting in lower order.

Because Umar Akmal has displayed signs of having the capability to?

May I remind you about how Akmal fared in Australia when he was required to a quick innings and instead played a selfish knock?

 

[MMHS]

True, but the man has to get in proper shape first - both physically & mentally. I don't think he is in right mind for cricket now. May be a complete break from cricket for few months & spending time with family will help him to refocus. Still, young enough to make a great comeback, if he wants to.

 

[Slog]

I tell you whats sad is seeing Pakistan fail to score even 50 runs in last 8 overs 2nd time in a row and whats sad is witnessing hacks like Fakher Zaman and totally hopeless strike hitters like Malik,Sarfraz batting in lower order.

The funny thing is that you actually think that if Umar Akmal was playing it would be different when every evidence in the world makes it plain to see that won't be the case

 

[Stark]

He has to get himself in shape first.

Round is a perfect shape.

 

[Pete Rose]

He suffers from a false sense of entitlement. Even as Pakistans batting flounder, he is probably porking out on chips and coke waiting for the inevitable recall

 

[msb314]

It doesn't take long to improve fitness, a week is enough.

Umar is a better T20 batsmen than Zaman, Malik, Shezhad, Kamran and Sarfraz, so most of today's batting line up.

No disrespect but this is a poor attitude to have.

Fitness can and never will be obtained in a week.

Even top athletes need months and months of preparation with rigorous training and diet regime that has to be followed if your diet depended on it.

Although any start is better than nothing - a week will bring about no change or effect on you - it always is a long term commitment which our players and culture fail to understand.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Isn't he another TTF?

 

[Ellipsism]

The only thing being missed are his fans excuses for his repeated failures in the Match Threads.

 

[LordJames]

If Umar can do one good thing for himself, then play himself as an opener in the upcoming one day cup.

Isn't he the Captain of one of the teams? He can play himself pretty much anywhere he wants.

If he fails this time would all the excuses end?

 

[Mir jibran]

the obsession with umar akmal continues
come on bhaijaan
its better we invest in some young legs rather than calling ttf's again and again.
hope shehzad tanvir hafeez and akmal fail for this whole tour and we finally get rid of them

 

[Haroon786]

No, Akmal never was a power hitter.

Back when he was a good batsman in the years 2009-2013, his main strength was being dynamic - he could rotate strike the best out of any Pakistani batsman, he used innovation, played technically correct boundary shots and if the ball was in the slot could give it the aerial treatment against pacers and spinners. However, his weaknesses were mental implosions, he tended to slog after 30-40 runs made and also lacked a good defense against spinners.

Now - he is a microcosm of the precocious talent he was back then and he still isn't a power hitter because his game is reliant on being able to get plenty of 1s and 2s and the ocassional boundary rather than the definitive tendency to hit 6s.

By Pakistani comparisons, yes he is a power hitter but that's because there is almost no one else who has shown that they can clear the ropes over a period of time that Umar has but then again by international standards, I don't consider him one.

 

[Ellipsism]

Isn't he the Captain of one of the teams? He can play himself pretty much anywhere he wants.

If he fails this time would all the excuses end?

No, the excuses will never end. He will manage to find a place in one of our squads after bullying a few trundlers in some unknown domestic tournament only for him to fail as usual. The exact cycle will repeat for another decade-minimum.

 

[in_cutter]

Umar fans are truly a deluded lot. Cannot wait until both Akmal's retire.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I simply do not understand this obsession with Umar Akmal honestly.. As soon as Pakistan loses a match, there's a dozen threads on why we need Umar Akmal back in the team. We ourselves are to blame for the birth of all these TTF's since we keep crying for them to come back. He failed in the chance he got when brought back, failed miserably in the PSL vs third class bowlers even and on top of that, has not made a SINGLE effort to improve his fitness. His brother, 10 years older than him, known for his lethargy passed the fitness test while Umar Akmal failed.

Umar Akmal needs to get in shape to even be considered for the 15 man squad. He's a pathetic player. We need to try young blood. We tried young blood and that is why we have guys like Shadab, Babar Azam, Sami Aslam and even Imad in the team. Please just end this obsession with Umar Akmal.

And honestly speaking, he doesn't look like a "powerhitter" to me anyway. Maybe he was one back in the day but at the moment, he looks like dwarfed, retired Salman Khan who's never played cricket in his life.