http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 needs to show more commitment, believes Basit Ali - Cricket News Update
Former Pakistani cricketer, Basit Ali, is of the opinion that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s young middle order batsman, Umar Akmal has not justified his talent till date and he needs to show more commitment in order to cement his place in the Pakistani team for all the three
formats of the game.
Umar burst into the scene of international cricket in 2009 and impressed one and all with his ability to play extra-ordinary shots. The right-handed batsman from Lahore has played some superb knocks since the last couple of years but he has been very inconsistent,
especially in the longer version of the sport.
This is the reason why, Umar was dropped from the Pakistani Test team before the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE).
Basit, who himself was considered a very special batsman during his playing days, feels that Umar is an extra-ordinary talent and has the potential to become a true match-winner for the Green Shirts, but for that to happen, Umar must organize his batting
because rash stroke-play can often lead to the downfall of a batsman against a strong fielding line-up.
For his interview for Pakpassion, the former cricketer said, "Umar is undoubtedly a very talented batsman. He has a lot of shots in his armoury and can demoralise any bowling attack. In the space of a few overs he can change the course of a match. However
cricket is not about playing a few flashy shots and then going and sitting in the pavilion.”
Basit feels that the exclusion of Akmal from the Test team is qute justified because of his inconsistent performances in the longer format of the game. This also gives opportunity to Akmal to work on his game in the domestic cricket of Pakistan and by performing
well in the first-class matches, he can surely make a comeback to Test cricket.
"It's absolutely correct that Umar (Akmal) is excluded from the Test side. If he wants to become a test regular then he needs to improve his levels of concentration, improve his shot selection and bat according to the match situation”, he added.
Umar is currently playing Quaid e Azam Trophy 2011-12, Divison Two, representing Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
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