The ‘Akmal’ duo - Part 2 – Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 would be playing their group stage encounters on the green top of Pallekele in Kandy, which has historically been a seamer’s paradise. In light of this, and the unpredictable nature of the oppositions that they would be encountering, both brothers
would need to have the ability to anchor the innings if their side is in turmoil, or blaze away from the start to set up a huge score. In addition, their fielding skills are of utmost importance as the T20 game can change quickly. The fact that Kamran Akmal
is getting a good amount of wicket keeping practice in the ongoing Cool and Cool T20 series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595’s fine innings and tumbling
saves in the inner ring against the Aussies in sweltering conditions, has allowed him to gel into the T20 mode and build confidence ahead of the World Cup.
Not too many batsmen have matured into this pocket sized format as have the Akmal brothers in their prime. They are in fact the most successful duo to play for any team in the shortest format of the game. The T20 is still a relatively new version and the
days seem to have gone by when teams used to have the Flowers and the Waughs who could dish it out in colored clothing, and win games single handedly in the fifty-over format. The Akmal’s on the other hand, are probably the first duo to have cemented their
names in the Twenty over format as formidable players, and the impact that they have on the game is quite visible in their performances.
The challenge for Pakistan however, is to understand how they could best utilize them. The combination of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 at the top of the order should well and truly remain intact and the Akmal’s should be placed in the middle order to
rescue the team if a batting collapse does take place. Yet Pakistan is a team which has been prone to constant experimentation and innovation with regard to their batting, and in light of this, it would be unwise to fiddle around with these middle order specialists.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kamran-Akmal-c70122 for example, has been opening the batting for Pakistan in the T20 format, yet the role he had played in previous games should not be a justification to have him swap places with the established opening combination that the team has in place at
the moment.
For Umar Akmal however, his elevation to the number four position should seriously be considered and would suit Pakistan perfectly. There have been times when Akmal’s position in the batting order has stymied his run flow. He at times fails to realize his
true potential, considering that he bats too low in the order. However, if he bats at four, which is one of the most important positions in the batting line up for any team, Akmal could well and truly construct an innings of substance by peppering the bowlers,
and at the same time connecting with the ball and running hard between the wickets.
These factors need to be taken into consideration if Pakistan wants to win the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. The manner in which the Akmal brothers have cemented themselves would mean that if they are properly utilized, Pakistan could well and truly lay their
batting woes to rest.
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