One of the major omissions from the recently announced Champions Trophy squad was the omission of 22-year-old Umar Akmal. The right-handed middle order batsmen has been out of form recently, but it is crucial that his enormous talent is not allowed to be wasted.

by Amir Husain (1st May 2013)

The distinctive green lip balm, the swagger and the aggression – a self-combusting combination made to please an even more volatile group of supporters from a country where the term patience is considered a weakness of the soul, Umar Akmal was fast emerging as successor to that other doyen of the enthralled masses – Shahid Afridi. 

Similar to the (once) 17 year old Afridi of yore , Umar Akmal had something about him which also spelt greatness in its own right. Described variously as “boy wonder”, “flawed genius” and a little unfairly as “enfant terrible” of Pakistan, Umar Akmal had the world at his feet.

He made his debut during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2009 scoring 18 off 28 balls, laced with 3 boundaries. The 3rd highest score in a low team total but the signs were there for all to see. There was belligerence and an “attitude” which went beyond what would expect from a 19 year old. This was a precocious talent and the promise of a wonderful career was for all to see. His next two innings yielded 66 and an unbeaten match-winning century off just 72 balls, an innings that could be described as “youthful exuberance at its best.”

Before long he was fast tracked to Test matches as well – playing his debut game against New Zealand at Dunedin and duly scoring a 100 in his first Test innings, following it up with 75 in the second. Obviously, the comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar seemed far ahead of their time but it was clear that Pakistan had something special here. The Pakistani management must have seen the talent and the potential that Umar Akmal possessed. Here was a batsman, who if nurtured and provided with the right guidance, represented the future of Pakistani batting. Who knows what untold riches his talent could bestow upon Pakistan in the future? 

Why such talent which had the potential to decimate most bowling attacks was allowed to waste away will be a question only those in the know can answer. The fact is that for all his gifts as a batsman, Umar Akmal played just 16 Test matches between 2009 and 2011 and apart from that majestic hundred on debut, his record in the Test arena was nothing to write home about. The 16 Test matches that he has played so far have yielded just 1003 runs at an average of 35.82.

The story went that he was not suited for the longer form of the game. His record in the shorter formats was slightly better and he was allowed plenty of chances to prove himself. In 71 ODIs, he averages almost 38 at a strike rate of 84, which puts him ahead of all the batsmen barring Misbah-Ul-Haq and Nasir Jamshed in the selected Champions Trophy squad. His crucial knock of 44* against Australia in the 2011 World Cup will not be forgotten, as it showed a maturity he is often criticised for lacking, and it helped end the Aussies’ 12 –year unbeaten World Cup run.

His T20I career has also been respectable rather than spectacular, an average of 26 from 43 matches and a strike rate of 118. A couple of innings in particular stand out, both at World Cups. In 2010, his glorious 56 off 35 balls helped Pakistan reach 191. It ultimately wasn’t enough but his decimation of Mitchell Johnson will be fondly remembered, as hit three sixes in an over off the left-arm pacer. The must-win game versus South Africa in 2012 looked all but over before Akmal, with help from Umar Gul, rescued Pakistan and sealed a spot in the next round. 

It’s clear that some of Akmal’s finest moments in limited overs cricket have come at ICC events, and the stats reflect this. In World Cups and Champions Trophies, Akmal has played a total of 23 matches and averages 48 with a strike rate of 101. Based on these numbers, the outcry over his omission from the latest squad does seem justified.

Undoubtedly a talented batsman, Akmal must not give up hope and turn this enormous talent into tangible results. After being left out of the playing XI regularly in recent times, he needed to deliver in last month's President's Cup to catch the eye of the selectors and ensure they could not leave him out of the Champions Trophy squad, but he failed to do that, something he no doubt regrets. An average of 15.8 from the six innings he played there was obviously deemed unsatisfactory by the selectors.

As for the PCB, it is also their duty to ensure that Umar Akmal's potential is not wasted. Whilst the batsman himself needs to make a concerted effort to improve, the board should consider specific targeted coaching for the right-hander to iron out his faults. When money can be spent on a whole assortment of other activities, surely it's wise to invest in certain players and ensure that their potential is not written off. Pakistan has been blessed with a multitude of talented players in the bowling department, but the batting has not always been so fortunate. Players with Umar Akmal's ability do not surface that often, so it is important that action is taken to ensure he has a swift and successful return to the national setup.

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