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Umar Akmal : Our missing star

YousafTheBeast

T20I Debutant
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Jun 17, 2018
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6,639
BRING BACK UMAR AKMAL

Yes, you read that correctly, bring back umar akmal #BBUK

I have created this thread because we seem to have a lot of people spewing hate on a certain individual because of his problems off the field rather on the field!

Yes he may have caused a few traffic violations, called out Mickey Arthur in the media, failed a few fitness tests etc we get it, he’s an idiot, but an idiot who is a talented cricketer, and sadly he’s Pakistan’s only hope for bringing the World Cup trophy back to Pakistan.

I’ll provide you with statistics that’ll back my claims as to why he’s Pakistan best middle order batsman.

Umar Akmal batting at No. 6: (Min: 30 innings) - has an average of 37.04 in 61 innings, compare that to England’s No.6 Jos Butler who averages similar to Umar Akmal at 37.57 in 54 innings. Now how come Jos Butler is this fantastic middle order batsman but akmal is a TTF?
They both have similar stats no? Numbers don’t lie, or do they only lie when it’s about Umar Akmal? Also note that he’s got the 10th highest batting average at no.6.

The closest No. 6 Pakistani batsman to Umar Akmal is Saleem Malik who averaged 32 in 32 innings.

Throughout his career, Umar averages a run less than Malik and with a greater strike rate. A middle order containing Malik at 5 and Umar 6 fills me with much pleasure, that pleasure I haven’t gotten since Afridi’s name on our starting xi, we Pakistanis are being robbed of entertainment, of great victories, with Malik at his peak and coming to the end of his career we may never get to see Akmal and Malik batting together in tandem tearing every nations line up apart.

Sadly, we have certain fans who don’t understand that cricket is progressing, to compete with other teams we have to match their level, we need a top order with players who are aggressive but also consistent, we need a middle order that’s aggressive and consistent, not players who take 4-5 dot balls then take a single of the last ball of the over!

Many of the batsmen in our squad have been fortunate, they’ve had the opportunity to play their first 5–10 games against weak teams like Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the West Indies, that’s more than the amount Umar Akmal has played in his entire career, these current lot are being hailed as if they’ve beaten England or South Africa or New Zealand.
It’s sad to see that our best middle order batsman may not be a part of our World Cup, when our team needs 50 of 24 balls, would you rather have Umar Akmal come out to bat or the likes of Haris Sohail, Hussain Talat, Sarfraz Ahmed?
 
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I think more than umar, the kind of form Kamran had shown over the last two years, he is anyday better than Sarfraz who plays one good knock in 6 months.

Mickey is playing his favorites, it will look fine as long as the team wins, but will backfire otherwise.
 
Umar Akmal the star that barely lit up, never mind shine and has now faded into nothingness.....
 
He is rubbish versus spin so he wouldn't have helped in this tournament. But he needs to score in domestic cricket to have any chance of a call up.
 
Umar has similar average as Buttler.So they are equal??LMAO!
 
He is rubbish versus spin so he wouldn't have helped in this tournament. But he needs to score in domestic cricket to have any chance of a call up.

I agree, but don’t think playing spin in England will be an issue, I hope he improves his fitness and if he does perform in the PSL then it’ll be hard to not select him for the WC2019
 
He needs to score heavily in domestic to win his place back , his international career in last 5 years has been embarrassing to say the least.
 
Is akmal ko jungle ke kisi paed ke sath bandh ke rakho. Ye khula saand hogaya hai.
 
I guess some of us think that Star material = Talent, which is wrong.
Star Material= Talent+Temperament+Attitude+Hardwork+Discipline+Game Sense+Cricket Intelligence.

Umar Akmal had abundance of 1 thing which was talent but thats not enough when other 6 things are almost nil.

So I dont understand the thread and the purpose of it, just bcz some guy can play shots (Although he wasnt able to do that as well in last couple of years even in PSL), also he has a lot of fitness and disciplinary issues going on.

I will be surprised if even LQ retains him, plus has he done anything in domestics to deserve a place? I dont think so.
 
I guess some of us think that Star material = Talent, which is wrong.
Star Material= Talent+Temperament+Attitude+Hardwork+Discipline+Game Sense+Cricket Intelligence.

Umar Akmal had abundance of 1 thing which was talent but thats not enough when other 6 things are almost nil.

So I dont understand the thread and the purpose of it, just bcz some guy can play shots (Although he wasnt able to do that as well in last couple of years even in PSL), also he has a lot of fitness and disciplinary issues going on.

I will be surprised if even LQ retains him, plus has he done anything in domestics to deserve a place? I dont think so.

The point of this thread is to highlight the fact that Pakistan does not have a number 6 batsman who can single handedly win us the game when chasing a total. We need Umar Akmal more than he needs Pakistan cricket, he’ll easily earn 20-40k playing in foreign leagues, but we’ll be stuck with players like faheem (I backed faheem prior to the group stage game against India in ct17) who is turning out to be another anwar ali or bilwal bhatti in the limited overs format.
 
Also Just comparing the average of Umar Akmal to Buttler is not right, even it is less. Buttler has a lot of other traits which make him a match winner while Akmal has just one. Akmal cant control his intelligence level but he didnt even control the things he could, which was fitness, discipline etc.

Butller has won Eng matches while I am yet to see Akmal winning us any important match.

Akmal and Shehzad have played two world cup and God knows how many T20 workdcups but are yet to win us a game.

Even the old Umar Akmal who showed glimpses of some extraordinary talent without anything else is not there anymore, he cant even hit now regularly.
 
Also Just comparing the average of Umar Akmal to Buttler is not right, even it is less. Buttler has a lot of other traits which make him a match winner while Akmal has just one. Akmal cant control his intelligence level but he didnt even control the things he could, which was fitness, discipline etc.

Butller has won Eng matches while I am yet to see Akmal winning us any important match.

Akmal and Shehzad have played two world cup and God knows how many T20 workdcups but are yet to win us a game.

Even the old Umar Akmal who showed glimpses of some extraordinary talent without anything else is not there anymore, he cant even hit now regularly.

They don’t just hand out 7 Man of the Match awards and 1 Man of the Series awards for fun.
 
The point of this thread is to highlight the fact that Pakistan does not have a number 6 batsman who can single handedly win us the game when chasing a total. We need Umar Akmal more than he needs Pakistan cricket, he’ll easily earn 20-40k playing in foreign leagues, but we’ll be stuck with players like faheem (I backed faheem prior to the group stage game against India in ct17) who is turning out to be another anwar ali or bilwal bhatti in the limited overs format.

I agree with you and management also felt that and gave chance to Asif Ali, Umar has played 114 ODIs let Asif Ali play atleast 20 before you ask for this.

Asif might have looked poor in Asia Cup till now but what I have seen of him I think its just nerves he has more traits than just hitting ability.
 
They don’t just hand out 7 Man of the Match awards and 1 Man of the Series awards for fun.

None in any important world cup match or any important series if I am not wrong.

Also if you see there is only one against aus rest are Srl, WI and minnows.

Also he isnt the same player, let him do something in domestics or PSL to ask for this.
 
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He needs to score heavily in domestic to win his place back , his international career in last 5 years has been embarrassing to say the least.
 
I agree, but don’t think playing spin in England will be an issue, I hope he improves his fitness and if he does perform in the PSL then it’ll be hard to not select him for the WC2019

Teams will be aware of his issues versus spin and most teams play a leggie. He isn't going to be tried as an opener so he will be facing spin in the middle order.

He has a lot of work to do to get back into contention.
 
Not Umar for sure - I am not going to get in that trap again😜

But, I am sure the point here is not only UA, but a back-up WK as well in squad, even in playing XI. It’s negligence to the level of corruption that for almost 2 years now, they haven’t selected a backup WK in tours, haven’t appointed a Vice Captain officially and haven’t tried to build one back up WK among the batsmen of playing XI - just to keep one bang average cricketer comfortable and safe. Ironically, every other team in this Asia Cup has at least one back-up WK in playing XI, and people are talking about keeping with Fakhar!!!

Forget about the runs he is scoring or leadership style, in this weather playing 6 games in 13 days - what about if Sarfraz gets injured on Sunday’s game or Wednesday’s game & PAK makes the final? They had 16 players to pick unlike usual 14, and no back up WK? They say there is no back-up to choose, when they haven’t tried any. Either PAK domestic cricket should be stoped all together and few hand picked players should be trained for national team or people like Rizwan, Siddique, Bismillah & few others have to be given chance - at least have to be in squad with their domestic numbers.

I have seen teams picking specialist captains and hide them at 6-7-8 as “all-rounder”, but never thought that I’ll see an established cricket nation picking a specialist Captain & then hiding him as Wicket Keeper.
 
Umar Akmal needs some good time with a motivator/psychiatrist. He needs to work on his game as well as fitness and need to believe in his ability rather than giving rubbish statements
 
“Yes he may have caused a few traffic violations, called out Mickey Arthur in the media, failed a few fitness tests etc we get it, he’s an idiot, but an idiot who is a talented cricketer, and sadly he’s Pakistan’s only hope for bringing the World Cup trophy back to Pakistan.”

🙄🤦🏽*♂️ I’d rather have Anwar Ali.. no talent but 101% commitment.. & that’s what is required , you really need to get out more often if you think this waste of space is our only hope for WC success 🤷🏽*♂️
 
To the Indian posters here:

Pak require 50 from 24 to win against India, we lose our 4th wicket, who would you not want coming in, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali or Umar Akmal?
 
To the Indian posters here:

Pak require 50 from 24 to win against India, we lose our 4th wicket, who would you not want coming in, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali or Umar Akmal?

Shoaib Malik the GOAT. And asif,Nawaz and Hasan to hit one six each.
 
This thread reminded me of the Hindi commentary by Dravid and Akhtar in 2015 world cup match between India and Pakistan.

Akhtar: Pakistan ki batting ab Afridi pe dependent hai

Dravid: Bahut hi kharab situation hai agar aap Afridi pe dependent hai to :afridi
 
Please don’t start again, Even PSL team realized he is poison, and you want to bring him back to National team.
If my brother gets dropped I won’t play either, he should have dropped right there and then forever
 
To the Indian posters here:

Pak require 50 from 24 to win against India, we lose our 4th wicket, who would you not want coming in, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali or Umar Akmal?

Asif Ali then Umar on the performances of last couple of years in domestics and whatever international each has played.

There is only one slot for such kind of player and Asif desyit at the moment and hopefully in coming matches he will make it his own. Asif uses brain as he has shown in recent domestic one day tournument while Akmal never burdens his and that is the key at no 4 position and to be a good finisher.
 
To the Indian posters here:

Pak require 50 from 24 to win against India, we lose our 4th wicket, who would you not want coming in, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali or Umar Akmal?

If these three are only options, i’ll raise white flag immediately. Still, game has to continue, so i’ll send Asif, then Umar, then Sarfraz.

Asif has a little chance to hit few and take it close, Umar has a better chance to take it closer, but invariably he’ll do something stupid to break my heart, while Sarfraz will force me to break my TV - so, it’s safer to send Asif.

PS: no one is going to win, but Asif is least damaging.
 
If these three are only options, i’ll raise white flag immediately. Still, game has to continue, so i’ll send Asif, then Umar, then Sarfraz.

Asif has a little chance to hit few and take it close, Umar has a better chance to take it closer, but invariably he’ll do something stupid to break my heart, while Sarfraz will force me to break my TV - so, it’s safer to send Asif.

PS: no one is going to win, but Asif is least damaging.

If you watch pak social media last night the guy named Sarfarz has been teared apart by pakistani people.he is under tremendous pressure as he is playing possibly three times against india so he is surely under the knives now.my be not under the knives of Inzi though.
 
I think next year’s PSL auction is make or break for him. Not sure if he will get picked up tbh by a franchise
 
At this point i think Umar might be even worse than Rayudu and Kartik so i hope he is bought back into Pakistan team.
 
Move on. Nothing to see here.

Wasted his chances and wasted the time of his coaches.

More deserving players than him around.
 
It's over. He's had his chances and he blew each and every one of them. He hasn't stopped with the traffic violations either, I encountered him on the road once last year and he was cutting like a mad man.
 
I'm going to be honest. Whilst Umar and Kamran would indeed be major upgrades to Asif and Sarfraz (batting wise) this does not mean they should be allowed back. They both had a very long run to prove themselves. Whilst Kamran had a somewhat successful career, he does not have much to offer at the age of 36. Umar on the other hand could make a comeback, IF he scores in domestic cricket. However, his performances in FC and List A cricket as well as in the PSL were for everyone to see. I would be surprised if he will even be selected by a franchise in next year's season of PSL.

It's sad how Umar Akmal's career finished after the start he made.
 
Not a single supporter in sight, a couple of hundreds in the next PSL, with 5% body fat and you’ll all be begging for his comeback!
 
I'm going to be honest. Whilst Umar and Kamran would indeed be major upgrades to Asif and Sarfraz (batting wise) this does not mean they should be allowed back. They both had a very long run to prove themselves. Whilst Kamran had a somewhat successful career, he does not have much to offer at the age of 36. Umar on the other hand could make a comeback, IF he scores in domestic cricket. However, his performances in FC and List A cricket as well as in the PSL were for everyone to see. I would be surprised if he will even be selected by a franchise in next year's season of PSL.

It's sad how Umar Akmal's career finished after the start he made.

Kamran Akmal is long gone, can’t field, can’t keep, whereas UAkmal can keep, can field and he’s still got time to make things right!
 
There's always a chance of a comeback team isn't settled Malik won't be there forever Asif is a slogger who's place isn't secure Sarfraz is struggling recently Haris isn't doing great.
To make a comeback he needs consistent performance which isn't quite there at the moment.
 
Umar Akmal is finished. Doesn't merit a place in the team, has been given countless chances to prove himself (like his brother) and it's always the same story. His career is definitely over, unless he begins to prove himself by performing consistently in domestics. We all saw what happened with him last PSL and the comments he made about Mickey, so chances are extremely slim. And I'm happy about that, the less we see of the Akmals and Shehzads in our team, the better.

Also making comparisons between UA and Asif Ali is extremely unfair. Asif has the potential to be the hitter we need at the backend of the innings, but he's not been around for long at all. Give him time and chances to prove himself, if he fails continuously then chuck him out and look for someone else.

Resorting back to Umar Akmal is the last thing we need right now. It's extremely frustrating to see how some people still want him back, despite his consistent disappointments and off-field antics.
 
Sadly Umar and Kamran are being kept out because of prejudices and non-cricketing reasons. On merit, they can walk into this team with ease. Dynamic batsmen who love taking the game to the opponent. Unfortunately in recent years, our fans have become eager for pliant characters unable to even make eye contact.
 
Sadly Umar and Kamran are being kept out because of prejudices and non-cricketing reasons. On merit, they can walk into this team with ease. Dynamic batsmen who love taking the game to the opponent. Unfortunately in recent years, our fans have become eager for pliant characters unable to even make eye contact.

Maybe for Umar at least it has something to do with he can't string a series of normal scores and bat with a bit of brain and not hit those delicious slogs as soon as he enters the crease?

But no, that can't be it.

Tendulkar is being held back because of non-cricketing reasons.
 
Authentic, bona fide box office. We in India miss him too and his toothy grin.
 
What has Umar Akmal done in domestics to merit a comeback? The Pakistan team is better without his unhealthy attitude.
 
Move on. Nothing to see here.

Wasted his chances and wasted the time of his coaches.

More deserving players than him around.

If only he had taken a leaf out of his cousin's book, he would have been a different player

All he had to do was ask Babar what makes him so special that Mickey is willing to put his own reputation on the line to have him play for Pakistan
 
A wasted talent that we should not be wasting more time on. His international playing days are over. He should focus on T20 leagues to make a livelihood now.
 
I literally opened the thread thinking umer akmal kahin gum gaye hain. And I was like oh ho Allah reham karay. But then nvm.
 
To the Indian posters here:

Pak require 50 from 24 to win against India, we lose our 4th wicket, who would you not want coming in, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali or Umar Akmal?

Probably wouldn't care, 50 from 24 is a won game unless we are facing Australian sloggers in Australia.

If it was 40 from 24, even then we probably wouldn't mind UA at the crease. He was dangerous once, but his last good tournament was the 2013 Asia Cup.

He needs to score heavily in domestic to win his place back , his international career in last 5 years has been embarrassing to say the least.

True.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...pan;template=results;type=batting;view=series
 
Does Pakistan really have an option anymore to ignore Akmals or Hafeez or Azhar Ali? Pakistan batting line up is so inexperienced that a couple of senior pros will come back no matter how much PPers want them not to.
 
Does Pakistan really have an option anymore to ignore Akmals or Hafeez or Azhar Ali? Pakistan batting line up is so inexperienced that a couple of senior pros will come back no matter how much PPers want them not to.

All the “far deserving players” in our domestic circuit will average 50+ but once they come up to international level they struggle! Majority of the posters here don’t realise that we have a shortage of batting talent in Pakistan, especially in the limited overs format, we can’t pick and choose players due to off field behaviour! Our best batsman is Umar Akmal and that’s a fact.
 
Does Pakistan really have an option anymore to ignore Akmals or Hafeez or Azhar Ali? Pakistan batting line up is so inexperienced that a couple of senior pros will come back no matter how much PPers want them not to.

A case could be made for Hafeez as he just scored 213 in the Quaid Trophy match. What has Umar Akmal done ever since being dropped?
 
A case could be made for Hafeez as he just scored 213 in the Quaid Trophy match. What has Umar Akmal done ever since being dropped?

Struggle to understand why was hafeez dropped in first place. His last series was in NZ where he scored 2 80s in 5 matches. Then the coach and captain decided to humiliate him and not give him a single game against zimbos and telling press that he ain't in their future plans. Kamran Akmal if I am not wrong, has been scoring tons of runs as opener in Pakistan t20 league. Umar I don't know wot he's upto recently.
 
Good to see how well we’re doing without umar akmal, he was used as a scapegoat for our failures, so sad!
 
Ghar aaaja pardesi tera desh pukare ve

Being badly missed. Always believed in him.
 
Best role for Umar Akmal is "missing star" role. This way he can build an imaginary hype without playing matches. If he plays he will hurt that hype.
 
bunch of 5-10 yrs old in this forum seriously... threads on UA are like whack a mole game.
 
Averages 32 at 138 strike rate in psl

UA is finished Yousaf, you are clutching last straw. Bringing him back means one more round in the same cycle - there are enough U23 players in domestics to pick from and groom.

For batsmen, I like to take the Indian approach than PAK approach - that is, I don't see where the ball was hit, rather how it was hit ....... that's why your opener is Fakhar, No. 4 is Sarfraz & No. 6 is Asif Ali.

Umar Akmal isn't the solution - he'll be side wise shift from this guy Sarfraz.
 
UA is finished Yousaf, you are clutching last straw. Bringing him back means one more round in the same cycle - there are enough U23 players in domestics to pick from and groom.

For batsmen, I like to take the Indian approach than PAK approach - that is, I don't see where the ball was hit, rather how it was hit ....... that's why your opener is Fakhar, No. 4 is Sarfraz & No. 6 is Asif Ali.

Umar Akmal isn't the solution - he'll be side wise shift from this guy Sarfraz.

on serious note beyond these hacks what do you want to be done for number 4,number 6 ?i think Saud can come at 4 but at 6?hussain Talat may be but i am not confident about his fast bowling ability and finishing touch.And Zafar gohar is not playing Thid round of QEA trophy so i think he is going to dubai??
 
I don't think we need another player that keeps skying the ball after a few deliveries and getting out caught. Other than that, he's not fit enough for international cricket currently.
 
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