Umar Akmal keen to remove short-format specialist tag – Cricket News Update
Pakistan’s talented batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
Akmal was dropped out of the Test side by the selection committee under the command of the current interim coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-Hasan-Khan-c77595.
The Chief selector reasoned that Akmal performed far below his weight during the recent Test matches, and asked the batsman to work on his game to play bigger innings.
While expressing disappointment over being excluded from the Test crew, Akmal insisted that he will soon remove the label of being suitable only for limited-over cricket.
"I'm very lucky to have a chance to play domestic cricket and I'm taking it as an opportunity to improve. I'm fit for the longer version. I'm working hard so that I can remove the tag of being suitable only to the limited-overs format," said Akmal who has
been performing outstandingly in the ongoing domestic tournament of the country.
The 21-year-old recently smashed an excellent innings of 165 and led his side, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, to an emphatic 153-run win in a crucial Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Divison Two match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Multan-c819, ended on October 15, 2011.
Despite admitting that he needs to work on his temperament, Akmal vowed to continue playing his natural game. He however, conceded that he has been working on his technique in order to adjust to different situations.
"Players like [Kevin] Pietersen, [Virender] Sehwag and Yuvraj [Singh] play according to their natural style and I do that too. But now I'm trying to change it and play according to the situation. I'm getting help from my coaches and Basit Ali and this will
help me immensely," added the Lahore-born batsman who holds an average of 35.82 in 16 Tests.
Talking about Pakistani players’ possible inclusion in the next season of Indian Premier League (IPL), the young batsman stated that he would love to go http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 if he is given the permission to participate in the event.
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