Why is Umar Akmal in the squad for the Champions Trophy despite failing in Pakistan Cup and PSL?

[waqar goraya]

Some people here really dislike the guy. The other names that we keep hearing in the shape of Umar Amin and Haris Sohail have also been given ample opportunities. If Umar is not fit enough then how do you think Haris's fitness is good enough for int'l cricket?

We saw both Haris and Umar Amin in few matches of PSL and they were not great either against better bowlers.

Now, Umar had a very mediocre average of 32 in his last series in Australia which although not good enough could not be the reason for his ouster from a 15 man squad.
Considering the team requirement at 5/6 i don't think it is such an atrocious decision by the selectors. Even if i accept that both Umar Amin and Haris have improved themselves, having them at 5/6 would only do harm than good because of their style of play.

Still, if he was not selected it was OK )

 

[Abdullah719]

The other names that we keep hearing in the shape of Umar Amin and Haris Sohail have also been given ample opportunities.

Number of matches Umar Akmal has played for Pakistan: 214
Number of matches Haris Sohail has played for Pakistan: 26
Number of matches Umar Amin has played for Pakistan: 29

We saw both Haris and Umar Amin in few matches of PSL

Haris Sohail in PSL: 3 matches
Umar Amin in PSL: 0 matches



Don't have a problem with the rest of the post but just pointing out the facts.

 

[waqar goraya]

Number of matches Umar Akmal has played for Pakistan: 214
Number of matches Haris Sohail has played for Pakistan: 26
Number of matches Umar Amin has played for Pakistan: 29



Haris Sohail in PSL: 3 matches
Umar Amin in PSL: 0 matches



Don't have a problem with the rest of the post but just pointing out the facts.

Umar Akmal had a wonderful start to his career in all forms of the game. Still, he has the best figures in T20 cricket. Where as Umar Amin has an average of 19.21 in 15 ODI games. Don't you count 15 ODI games a proper chance?

And Haris got injured when he was in the worse shape than current over weight Umar Akmal.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Definitely should be his last chance now.

 

[Abdullah719]

Umar Akmal had a wonderful start to his career in all forms of the game. Still, he has the best figures in T20 cricket. Where as Umar Amin has an average of 19.21 in 15 ODI games. Don't you count 15 ODI games a proper chance?

And Haris got injured when he was in the worse shape than current over weight Umar Akmal.

If Kamran Akmal can make a comeback then so can Umar Amin (if his domestic performances merit it).

 

[Arsalan Pro]

If Kamran Akmal can make a comeback then so can Umar Amin (if his domestic performances merit it).

Also, Amin has age on his side unlike Kamran Akmal.

 

[ExplicitAI]

He has the ability to play modern ODI cricket which is the brand that Mickey wants us to play. Unfortunately it all depends on whether Umar can actually put his head down and focus on playing quality knocks but so far he doesn't look convincing.

 

[waqar goraya]

If Kamran Akmal can make a comeback then so can Umar Amin (if his domestic performances merit it).

He can, not necessarily at this very moment. I just checked his last 10 games and i see that since October 2016 he has played only 10 games which also include 4 FC ones.

And between this period, from October 2016 to 25 April 2017 ( the day squad was announced) , he scored only one century and zero fifty in 10 innings. His second century came two days later on 27th April.

So, i see that his non-inclusion in the 15 member squad is perfectly justified. In fact, his inclusion on the basis of a solitary century in 10 innings would have been an anomaly.

 

[AZ_cricket_fan]

Most of Pakistan cricket fans are fed up of shady selection policies adopted by our selectors. There is absolutely no justification for Umar Akmal to come in the ODI side besides "experience" which he only has because of constant brain fades of our selectors.

His selection simply defies any logical explanation and truly reflects why our team is at #8 ranking. We should have discarded him and others (exactly is a separate debate) for good long time ago and given others (Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Umar Amin, etc) plenty of chances.

Please dont have much hopes from this squad in CT or the World Cup. We just dont have the right system in place to properly use all our resources.

 

[Abdullah719]

He can, not necessarily at this very moment. I just checked his last 10 games and i see that since October 2016 he has played only 10 games which also include 4 FC ones.

And between this period, from October 2016 to 25 April 2017 ( the day squad was announced) , he scored only one century and zero fifty in 10 innings. His second century came two days later on 27th April.

So, i see that his non-inclusion in the 15 member squad is perfectly justified. In fact, his inclusion on the basis of a solitary century in 10 innings would have been an anomaly.

Don't recall advocating for his selection much. Talking more in terms of the future, if he can keep up his performances.

 

[waqar goraya]

Don't recall advocating for his selection much. Talking more in terms of the future, if he can keep up his performances.

Fine. Reading the following quote i thought that you were in fact calling for his inclusion. Just that if his domestic performances don't deserve the recall then why bother at all by drawing parallels on a hypothesis........ I hope he does well in the future as it seems you really like him.

If Kamran Akmal can make a comeback then so can Umar Amin (if his domestic performances merit it).

 

[Abdullah719]

Fine. Reading the following quote i thought that you were in fact calling for his inclusion. Just that if his domestic performances don't deserve the recall then why bother at all by drawing parallels on a hypothesis........ I hope he does well in the future as it seems you really like him.

Not really, but he has ability and it's a shame if that goes to waste.

In the past, he's shown signs of mental weakness so if he doesn't overcome that then he won't stand a chance in international cricket.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Not really, but he has ability and it's a shame if that goes to waste.

In the past, he's shown signs of mental weakness so if he doesn't overcome that then he won't stand a chance in international cricket.

That Bullet Cover Drive of Brett Lee. Nostalgia :-(

 

[sadida97]

Not really, but he has ability and it's a shame if that goes to waste.

In the past, he's shown signs of mental weakness so if he doesn't overcome that then he won't stand a chance in international cricket.

He should be tried as an opener

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

He should be tried as an opener

CT is not for Sciencee tajarbay

 

[sadida97]

CT is not for Sciencee tajarbay

Post CT

 

[Hawkeye]

That Bullet Cover Drive of Brett Lee. Nostalgia :-(

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5G9tDU7BsDU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And..

Look at Asad Shafiq.. 39 OFF 65 balls in a T20. ) )

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Post CT

So he should open in domestic. Perform better than all other openers around and than stake a claim for opening. This is national team, you can't give all positions to him.

 

[Poutine]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5G9tDU7BsDU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And..

Look at Asad Shafiq.. 39 OFF 65 balls in a T20. ) )

The 2011 world cup was a T20, how come no one told me? Also this match is clearly a PCB conspiracy cause despite it being a T20, the video shows Pakistan still had 150 balls left to chase the target.

 

[sadida97]

So he should open in domestic. Perform better than all other openers around and than stake a claim for opening. This is national team, you can't give all positions to him.

He played at nb 3 in the pakistan cup, I don't see much difference between opening and playing at nb 3

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5G9tDU7BsDU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And..

Look at Asad Shafiq.. 39 OFF 65 balls in a T20. ) )

I am not sure it might be an Odi yaar. Shafique is a Good Test player. Don't know what happens to his brain in Odi's ? Takes too much pressure.


Anyhow I was just watching Asif's wickets compilation and he dismissed Swann caught at 3rd slip by UA. UA after taking catch did not celebrate as if its routine work and immediately started shinning the red cherry


Than I watched his fifty againat Aus in a Test where Pak were 4 down and two teenagers Amir & UA were fighting against them. First cover drive and a pull for six of siddle well infront of midwicket was worth a look.


I remember waking up early morning for Pak vs NZ test with all my hopes on Yousuf and there I saw a teenager batting against 145 kph Bond and Martin & vettori in their peak. It was the best Test Debut in foreign conditions I saw of any Pak batsman. Bond took 7 or 8 wickets in those Test and Pakistan Lost the Test but UA scored 204 runs. A career which has gone downhill.

 

[Hawkeye]

The 2011 world cup was a T20, how come no one told me? Also this match is clearly a PCB conspiracy cause despite it being a T20, the video shows Pakistan still had 150 balls left to chase the target.

Alright, it was an ODI.

How is that justified in an ODIs??? )

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

He played at nb 3 in the pakistan cup, I don't see much difference between opening and playing at nb 3

Mostly he batted at number 4 in PC. For Pakistan team he has been selected as a bench option for number 6 batting position. Team management could have requested NCA & Punjab management to try him as opener in all PC matches if they see him as a possible opener for PAK.

Currently he might be out of CT if Punjab Coach & Manager give a report against him.

 

[90MPH]

I have never questioned his ability but his desire to improve.

Umar has not improved. He has in fact digressed in terms of technique, poor fitness, adding weight and generally poor attitude. He has only himself to blame.

The sad reality is the 2009 Umar Akmal that burst onto the scene is twice the batsman Umar has become now. What a wasted talent because he could have become a world class batsman. Really sad Umar

 

[Poutine]

Alright, it was an ODI.

How is that justified in an ODIs??? )

True it's not justified, especially considering he was chasing a mammoth score of 175 on a flat deck where even mediocre Australian batsman were able to amass 170+ in mere 300 balls.

 

[Hamza_]

I am not sure it might be an Odi yaar. Shafique is a Good Test player. Don't know what happens to his brain in Odi's ? Takes too much pressure.


Anyhow I was just watching Asif's wickets compilation and he dismissed Swann caught at 3rd slip by UA. UA after taking catch did not celebrate as if its routine work and immediately started shinning the red cherry


Than I watched his fifty againat Aus in a Test where Pak were 4 down and two teenagers Amir & UA were fighting against them. First cover drive and a pull for six of siddle well infront of midwicket was worth a look.


I remember waking up early morning for Pak vs NZ test with all my hopes on Yousuf and there I saw a teenager batting against 145 kph Bond and Martin & vettori in their peak. It was the best Test Debut in foreign conditions I saw of any Pak batsman. Bond took 7 or 8 wickets in those Test and Pakistan Lost the Test but UA scored 204 runs. A career which has gone downhill.

[MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] There is no hope with Akmal. I've watched his first ODI Ton against SL, But he is just not cut for this level which requires alot more things than talent.

I was massive Akmal Fan until 2011. Let's just move on from him.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

[MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] There is no hope with Akmal. I've watched his first ODI Ton against SL, But he is just not cut for this level which requires alot more things than talent.

I was massive Akmal Fan until 2011. Let's just move on from him.

Hey Bewafa you left him too soon.


1. Let's bring back the green lipgloss, green gloves and green shoes back.

2. Let's give him to Yasir NCA with a task of 15 kg weight reduction in 4 months.

3. Let's enroll him into Reading, Writing, Speaking classes. Let's work on his mental capacity building.

4. Let's have him get some extensive Counselling sessions from Maqbool Babri.


This is Pakistan. He will keep getting dropped and will keep making comebacks sometimes on basis of domestic T20, sometimes PSL, sometimes National One day Cup and sometimes CPL, BPL etc.


I am quite sure (sadly though) that given his IQ and EQ level if Sharjeel and Khalid got caught 2 weeks later than this guy would have been part of the scandle and than probably a life ban and we would have moved On.

 

[sadida97]

Mostly he batted at number 4 in PC. For Pakistan team he has been selected as a bench option for number 6 batting position. Team management could have requested NCA & Punjab management to try him as opener in all PC matches if they see him as a possible opener for PAK.

Currently he might be out of CT if Punjab Coach & Manager give a report against him.

yes you are right, umar amin mostly played at 4. But recently, he has been playing at 3 for quite a while (he opened and played at 3 vs zimbabwe).

Umar Amin has always played in the upper order in domestics, so should also player in the upper order of pak.

nb 3 is occupied by babar, and haris sohail is more suited to play at 4. This means that The only option lest for amin is to open.

He is 27 right now, these should be his best batting years. Id rather want him to be in the international side right now so that he can learn more from mickey.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

yes you are right, umar amin mostly played at 4. But recently, he has been playing at 3 for quite a while (he opened and played at 3 vs zimbabwe).

Umar Amin has always played in the upper order in domestics, so should also player in the upper order of pak.

nb 3 is occupied by babar, and haris sohail is more suited to play at 4. This means that The only option lest for amin is to open.

He is 27 right now, these should be his best batting years. Id rather want him to be in the international side right now so that he can learn more from mickey.

Apologies from my side. There arw two UA's. I thought it's junior. Anyhow in other thread I have opposed Amin from opening aswell. Amin has opened for Pindi, 2 departmental teams, Under 19 and Pakistan A all ocassionally and he has always failed. He has performed at 4 and 5 in FC and List A. Very stylish, technically correct player. Treat to watch but mentally weak and usually fails against top bowling sides. But I am glad he had an excellent Pakistan Cup. Consistency has always been his biggest enemy even in domestic Cricket.


While people are appreciating many PC batsman do keep it in mind that PC wasn't competitive at all. First of all Sekection of 50 % players were not on merit. Yes 50 %. Most quality players were not either sent into bat or bowl at proper positions or they were kept at benches only. Boundaries on leg and offside were too short by Int standards. Fielding was attrocious, catching was terrible with dropped catches ratio in every match being 3-4 atleast. Pakistan's Top List A pacers Ali Imran Pasha, Sadaf Hussain, Ataullah, Atif Jabbar, Mohammad Ali & Ahmed Bashir weren't even picked for PC due to politics and lack of Merit hence the batsman had a party mostly facing club level pacers barring few rare good ones.


When Hafeez & Malik retire than Haris, Umar Amin & Agha Salman will be figting for those two places and few montgs later guys like Saif Badar and Saud Shakeel will be pushing these guys.


Lastly if UA (junior) gets dropped for CT due to discipline violations than Haris, Amin, Yamin & Tallat will be competing for the vacant spot. Personally I ll take Haris as a backup number 4. If not than I ll take Amin. So Amin still has chance for CT selection.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Mitchell Starc is a better batsman than this guy.

Amir Yamin can do everything that Akmal does better and bowl too. Should have been selected as a batting all-rounder.

 

[Hawkeye]

I am not sure it might be an Odi yaar. Shafique is a Good Test player. Don't know what happens to his brain in Odi's ? Takes too much pressure.


Anyhow I was just watching Asif's wickets compilation and he dismissed Swann caught at 3rd slip by UA. UA after taking catch did not celebrate as if its routine work and immediately started shinning the red cherry


Than I watched his fifty againat Aus in a Test where Pak were 4 down and two teenagers Amir & UA were fighting against them. First cover drive and a pull for six of siddle well infront of midwicket was worth a look.


I remember waking up early morning for Pak vs NZ test with all my hopes on Yousuf and there I saw a teenager batting against 145 kph Bond and Martin & vettori in their peak. It was the best Test Debut in foreign conditions I saw of any Pak batsman. Bond took 7 or 8 wickets in those Test and Pakistan Lost the Test but UA scored 204 runs. A career which has gone downhill.

Yep, indeed an ODI..

I think he's going to do well in this CT. Pitches should be good for batting and he'll certainly enjoy the pace.

Also, on such good tracks, if Hafeez doesn't open, he can do WONDERS too.. such a delight to watch against pacers.