World Cup semi-final defeat still haunts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 - Cricket News Update
The prolific top-order batsman of Pakistan, Umar Akmal has said that the disappointment of losing the mouth-watering 2011 World Cup semi-final to arch rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 still bothers him.
"When I was batting in the semi-final I was very sure of myself that I could go all the way and do it myself,” said a dejected Akmal while talking to the media reporters on Sunday. “People say I played recklessly but I was looking to steal a single off Harbhajan
Singh and he outfoxed me with a quicker one," he further added.
Pakistan lost the high profile World Cup semi-final to nemesis India by 29 runs after their batting line up collapsed pathetically against the Indian attack. Only http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 managed to get past 40 in their individual innings. Umar
Akmal, who had come at No. 6 was no exception and scored 29 runs off 35 balls, hitting a boundary and two lofty sixes before Harbhajan’s brilliant delivery nipped past Akmal’s bat and clattered into the off stump to slash http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 to 142 for 5 in their 261-run
chase.
The 21-year-old hard-hitting batsman said that he loves playing attacking cricket; however, he played down the impression that he does not listen to the advice from his senior players.
"But it is a wrong impression that I don't listen to advice from my seniors,” said Akmal, who had scored a century in his maiden Test appearance for Pakistan in 2009.
“I have always listened to them. I respect them a lot and they have been very good to me. When http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 was captain he used to tell me go and play my natural game and support has also come from others," he added further.
Akmal, who has played 45 ODIs and 16 Tests for Pakistan so far, said that the experience of playing on tough Australian pitches has boosted his confidence a lot and helped him improve his game as well. He further added that when he was given a chance to
play for the national side, he treated that like a normal game and had never felt under pressure.
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