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LAHORE: Hard-hitting batsman Umar Akmal has made a comeback for West Indies T20s, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.
After the 'disciplinary issues' sidelined Akmal from the national side contention since ICC World T20 in March this year, the 26-year-old's staggering performances, 302 runs at an outstanding average of 152, in the National T20 Cup strengthened his case for an international return.
Akmal scored a brilliant 115 not-out from 48 balls at a telling rate of 239 on Monday. He plundered Yasir Arafat for 34 runs in an over, hitting five sixes and a four to complete his century.
Fast-bowler Ammad Butt, who returned from the England tour without an outing, missed out from the squad.
Hasan Ali, who played his only T20 earlier this week against England at Old Trafford, retained his spot.
The right-armer returned the match figures of two for 24 in his four overs, dismissing Joe Root for the third consecutive time during the tour.
Ruman Raees and Saad Nasim also returned to the side.
Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Muhammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Muhammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim, Rumaan Raees
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Comments (93) Closed
Sep 09, 2016 05:31pm
The dirt will blow again and the politics will spread further.
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Sep 09, 2016 05:35pm
Good player , hope he learn from his mistakes in and out of field....
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Sep 09, 2016 05:40pm
Unbelievable..you drop Hasan Ali rather than Shoaib Malik? No wonder Junaid Khan is annoyed. Instead of giving players a run, Inzamam picks and chooses who he likes, I wonder why.
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Sep 09, 2016 05:40pm
Bad decision. The team looked united under the leadership of Sarfaraz after a long time. Bringing in likes of Umer Akmal will hurt team's unity.
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Sep 09, 2016 05:56pm
@Fez Hasan Ali is not dropped.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:01pm
pathetic...bringing back these players again...ahmad shahzad..afridi next
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Sep 09, 2016 06:04pm
@Fez He is in the squad look at the list of players at the end of article, His name is present,
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Sep 09, 2016 06:09pm
He always deserves a permanent place in all formats of cricket......if someone is disagree with me..please go through his records.. either in subcontinent or on bouncy wickets like England and Australia.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:11pm
Enough enough enough PCB . For the better image of Pakistan country in front of the World, PCB should give chances to new talent. For an example Sharjeel, Khalid and Hassan had played outstanding game during Pak vs Eng series. So PCB please leave older and focus newer one.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:11pm
@Zahid How many times will he be given chances? He never learns .
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Sep 09, 2016 06:12pm
pls no more Sohail Tanveer.....
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Sep 09, 2016 06:12pm
Perfect, he is needed.
He can be an asset if captain knows how to handel him.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:28pm
Mickey Arthur has been eyeing Umar Akmal for return as he knows Pakistan need aggresuve an technical batsmen which are his qualities along with decent fielding.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:30pm
He is a aggressive attacking batsman which is needed for modern game .
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Sep 09, 2016 06:31pm
this last chance for him to become legend and serve the country and repay.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:31pm
Back to low bounce and dead pitches of UAE .
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Sep 09, 2016 06:32pm
This will bring politics back in the team. Umar Akmal does not play for the team, he plays for himself.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:34pm
@Fez
Hassan Ali is not dropped.
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Sep 09, 2016 06:35pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan. this is what we are
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Sep 09, 2016 06:36pm
Pakistan should use UK grounds for home games in summer and Australia in winter as UAE conditions will not produce technical batsmen and seam bowler's
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Sep 09, 2016 06:39pm
Good Decision by the selectors.He is a good attacking batsmen and good fielder as well, all he need to do is he should not repeat his past mistakes and should play with lot of responsibility and as a most senior player in the team and cement his place for long time and the last but not the least he need to work on his attitude and discipline very important for himself and the team .This will not going to be tolerate anymore..
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Sep 09, 2016 06:39pm
@ Ths i presume you are willing to pay for it :D
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Sep 09, 2016 06:56pm
he does not deserve to play again.he is hitter of depth,s however he can not stay long time for a match winning combination.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:11pm
Akmal Brothers should be kept out of team if we want a united team
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Sep 09, 2016 07:15pm
@Wani What?Don't understand why u fans keep sayingg akmal needs to be handled well by PCB and captain all the time...Is he a 5 year old who needs spoonfeeding all the time..He made debut at same time as Kohli and Williamson..Have u ever heard that they need to be handled well to perform...What about Akmal own responsibility?Come on he is 26 year old with over 100 ODI of experience not a baby
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Sep 09, 2016 07:22pm
Not so good.
Saad Nasim and Babar Azam are not T20 players. We are wasting there talent in playing them in the shortest format of the game.
Mohammad Rizwan looks always in a hurry while batting he should not be selected in any format, even if he is a very good fielder.
Sohail Tanvir no way, I am surprised that he is again in the team. He only plays franchice cricket well, he is always below average while playing for Pakistan.
Please Inzi use your upper floor.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:36pm
Good selection of team. Now, we must start an aggressive training program for them scientifically based on various measures being applied by other teams.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:43pm
Akmal brothers has done so much to keep Sarfraz away but justice has been served and he has to play under Sarfraz captaincy. I am sure this is his last chance if he tries to bring his brothers back he will be out for good.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:52pm
@Sandeep Kumar : Personal habits and disciplinary traits are parts of a person's character and cannot be easily changed.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:57pm
@khan if he plays with honesty and sincerity.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:57pm
WHY???
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Sep 09, 2016 07:59pm
@Fez Where is Hasan Ali dropped? Looks like dreaming.
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Sep 09, 2016 07:59pm
Big hitter Anwar Ali is not in the squad. He is handy in lower order and proved himself in National T20 championship.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:00pm
Welcome back. Hopefully, he has learnt his lessons by now and will not dare to repeat his foolish actions in the days to come.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:01pm
Hoping our new coach, Mickey Arthur would groom and bring some common sense in this talent rich batsman.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:00pm
@ample reverence 4 KSA & Pak Army He will find hard to get into playing 11 considering last team which played T20I ,no one deserves to be out.He scores 20-30 goes out every time.No one will keep him for 20-30 runs and let the team down.Even Amir and Yasir Shah scores better than him.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:07pm
On the basis of his porential and current form of Pakistani team in the shorter formats he does deserve a recall. Hope he has learnt from his time away from the team (though his time away was very short). At the same time hope Sarfraz and Micky can handle him well both on and off the field.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:13pm
Is there an iota of thoughts about something called "accountability for indiscipline" anywhere left in PCB? He will be in at the cost of a new budding Amir, Imad or Hasan Ali. Till when do we keep backing up spent forces?
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Sep 09, 2016 08:11pm
Get them in and out will do no good to the team. If you want to build a team, build it with young and energetic players no matter how much time is required. We already have wasted 20 years on same type of players. Why not give chance to newcomers persistently.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:13pm
Unbelievable!
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Sep 09, 2016 08:20pm
During England tour Pakistan has found some good new players. Including akmal in the team is bad decision. It is like rewarding attitude, fixing and reckless performance.
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Sep 09, 2016 08:24pm
@tauseef Floor is empty and empty vessels make much noise , be habituated until he is there on Selectors Chair
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Sep 09, 2016 08:28pm
@tauseef very well said Saad Nasim and Babur Azam is no where near to T20 cricket , this players need some time to settle down in the middle by the time they settle 20 overs will be finished ... Well said Sohail Tanvir is a Franchise cricketer ..Instead of this 3 they would have select Soheb Maqsood and Anwar Ali
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Sep 09, 2016 09:26pm
Pathetic, just when the team was starting to gel. It's bad enough we have Shoaib Malik, now an Akmal brother is being thrown into the mix. I guess the PCB feels that we can't have a truly Pakistani team unless it has infighting and dirty dealing! Has Umer Akmal ever learnt from the countless "chances" he has been given?
And please don't tell me what a fantastic player he is
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Sep 09, 2016 09:38pm
@ample reverence 4 KSA & Pak Army I agree to you. If PCB has included him in test matches, he would have been much better batsman today. He is immense talent.
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Sep 09, 2016 09:49pm
The team PCB has announced, looking at the way team played in England, even on merit and based on performance Umar Akmal has no place in that team. Only thing that can push Umar into team is big-big Parchi and injustice to players who won remarkably in England. Maybe, the weakest player on merit in present team is Mohammed Amir, but still, one cannot ignore him on basis of few performance in England.
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Sep 09, 2016 10:16pm
NOT AGAIN.....GOD BLESS PAKISTAN AND CRICKET.
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Sep 09, 2016 10:32pm
Tanvir the tried horse with that poor comeback against England?? What the selectors are thinking??
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Sep 09, 2016 10:34pm
Anwer Ali and Mukhtar are better choices than Ruman Raees and Saad Nasim
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Sep 09, 2016 10:44pm
OK, when is Afridi coming back.This is normal in Paksitan.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:10pm
Pakistan shoots itself in the foot if it puts "locker room discipline" above performance in the field. Umar Akmal needs to be in the ODI and Test sides as well. Pakistan's middle order batting is pathetic and relies totally on aging players like Younis and Misbah.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:13pm
Bringing Kamran Akmal back will destroy the cricket. The guy is always involved in indiscipline, politics and destroying career of talented players. He has not done anything remarkable for Pakistan. Bring dedicated and honest players.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:21pm
Umar Akmal celebrates his call up to the squad by getting out for a duck against FATA in the on going National T20 tournament currently underway.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:26pm
This is the problem with PCB.. These 3 or 4 players that were thrown out of the team due to discipline knows that as long as they are favored in the bookie circle their spot is guaranteed. These players know that they can get away with anything whether infield or off field. They are irreplaceable. Simply pathetic.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:29pm
A good decision. If he does well he will probably get selected for ODIs (our weakest format right now) as well. Infact we need him in ODIs too. The whole series (ODI) against England, Pakistan played with just three proper batsmen Sharjeel, Azhar (someone needs to negate the new ball and play the anchor role, his captaincy sucks though) and Babar...the rest were bits and pieces players. Malik is too inconsistent and Sarfraz is a wicket-keeper stamen. Need to play 2 solid batsmen and 3-4 explosive batsmen. That is the right mix in your top 6.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:34pm
This man should not be in the team even on merit.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:38pm
I dont really get his inclusion in team again, which is terrible decision. I dont think this spoiled cricketer might have learnt anything while he was away. Pure politics run by few good men like Shoaib Malik and Akmal. They are bad apples and new talent will follow their footsteps. I would say PCB should have given him atleats a year break regardless of hia domestic performance but now he is back in team. I dont expect that he will do much mark my words. If we can recall jailed cricketer into team then undisciplined crickeyers is far lesser crime. PCB will never learn from mistakes.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:40pm
Kevin Pietersen was a bigger player, but when he caused disciplinary issues he was dropped. No player is bigger than the game. Unfortunately Inzimam doesn't understand that. When Fawad Alam cannot make it after scoring records in domestic cricket, this guy certainly doesn't either after two matches. Politics at its best again.
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Sep 09, 2016 11:39pm
A good decision of PCB. Pakistan needs a hard hitter in its middle order and he is the one.
One hope he has learnt from his mistakes.
I wish him good luck!
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Sep 10, 2016 12:08am
This is the start of downfall. . He will never win matches. Pakistan will loose matches from winning position. Everyone knows why? Goodbye Pak cricket. We had just started enjoying the team once again.
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Sep 10, 2016 12:16am
Typical of selectors. He was dropped for disciplinary reason. So what do they do? Pick him again so the cycle repeats. He is a disruptive influence and we should move on.
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Sep 10, 2016 12:30am
@Nazakat Kandhro
do u think Sharjeel and Khaid Latif are new?Soon you will be fed up of them as they are consistent performer,this Sharjeel and Latif's 3rd chance.
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Sep 10, 2016 12:35am
@tauseef
OK,pl give name of the players who should be in the team.To me,I am only agree with you for Sohail Tanvir.
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Sep 10, 2016 12:51am
Oh please, why we stick with Sohail Tanwir, he is a spent force..?
we should move on with youngsters not with oldies and bringing back Umar Akmal (why...?????). He is a superb player but wrong attitude for the beautiful game of cricket.
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Sep 10, 2016 01:54am
PCB cant find talent outside akmal bros home.. it seems PCB is hijacked by akmal family.. How to kill the talent can be learn from PCB
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Sep 10, 2016 02:11am
Sarfaraz should know he can't handle the team without help from Akmal and Malik. Afridi should never be allowed to make a comeback. Midbsh should officially retire from t20 and ODIs.
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Sep 10, 2016 02:22am
Oh God! Not him again.......
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Sep 10, 2016 02:26am
@ Ths That is an excellent suggestion.
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Sep 10, 2016 02:29am
@M.Saeed In this case, it is permanently ingrained.
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Sep 10, 2016 02:34am
V sad he is back.
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Sep 10, 2016 02:37am
International competition is different than performance at home and you cannot change the attitude of a person. Afridi is a case in point. You need consistent performance not hero-to-zero players. Desperation perhaps!
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Sep 10, 2016 03:04am
First of all, i was so delighted for Pakt20 win, it was equivalent to England's 444-3 humilation, come on 137 all out and we should have won by 10 wickets but I'll settle for nine. micky must be really happy and it was Afridi who suggested and recommended Sarfraz as captain.
So now, we have Umar Akmal back, thank goodness better for Pakistan and him, the other I like is Aamer Yamin, this kid is being overlooked but not for long as he making headlines at every opportunity he gets, even today by dismissing Akmal's brothers in three balls...wow..we have to pack the Pak team with solid All rounders...my pick;
Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Babar Azam, Umar Akmal, Aamer Yamin, Sarfraz Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir , Hassan Ali, ...third seamer would be Aamer Yamin , Imad and Nawaz along with Iftikhar gives Pak good overs in the middle, I would courage Babar Azam and Umar to seriously better their bowling ...
Harris Sohail, Anwar Ali
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Sep 10, 2016 03:11am
The last thing Pakistan needs is Umar back in the team. His specialty is not his swashbuckling batting but his polarizing activities within the team that causes internal rift and politics. He has alleged links with bookies and who can forget when in Australia he feigned a back injury when he refuse to play when his brother was kicked out of the team after deliberately dropping multiple catches and missing easy run-outs?
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Sep 10, 2016 04:02am
This is a tough pill to swallow.
Umar Akmal is player every team love to have because of his extraordinary talent and potential but if one team does not want him is Pakistan because the widespread toxicity and grouping he brings within Pakistan team.
Hope this time he proves to be assert for own country not only as match winner rather be a force of unification and humility within Pakistan team too.
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Sep 10, 2016 04:28am
Bad move. He's talented but shallow and disruptive player.
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Sep 10, 2016 05:17am
@ample reverence 4 KSA & Pak Army It's not about his ability but attitude. The attitude takes down the entire team.
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Sep 10, 2016 05:35am
Bad news that Umer Akmal is back in the team.
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Sep 10, 2016 05:50am
As long as the performance is consistent, then by all means play, otherwise, keep them out and give others a chance.
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Sep 10, 2016 05:59am
Akmal is not professional enough to let go of his brother's exclusion. Surely you will see sabotage & politics in the team. Why can't PCB learn!
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Sep 10, 2016 06:16am
Now the unity of team will be destroyed. Wrong decision. He had enough chances in past. New players are good.
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Sep 10, 2016 06:18am
Why Junaid Khan is continuously being ignored?
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Sep 10, 2016 06:17am
Umar plays for himself not for the country and honour.
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Sep 10, 2016 06:32am
@citizen26 can't teach professional attitude to a high school educated 26 year old! Days of teaching are long gone. PCB keep bringing him back after every few months. Our selection committee of dummies! Played 100 ODI just on potential and not on record...wow
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Sep 10, 2016 06:51am
Umar Akmal should be playing in all three forms of international cricket. If there is a disciplinary issue, tackle that maturely and professionally, rather than sidelining one of the best players currently on the circuit. It is like cutting your nose to spite your face. He is not a monster. He just requires better handling.
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Sep 10, 2016 08:16am
@Fez look at the squad carefully...
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Sep 10, 2016 09:00am
No Doubt Umar Akmal is a good attacking batsmen and good Fielder as well , but selectors and Coach should keep a close eye on Umar Akmal to make sure that he is not playing politics to bring back his brother and creating Groupism in the team which he is known for..
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Sep 10, 2016 09:36am
@Unair: Why Sarfraz cannot handle the team without Akmal or Malik, any reason?
Sarfraz is better batsman and scores faster than Akmal or Malik. With time batting of Sarfraz is improving while Akmal and Malik is deteriorating. So what makes Sarfraz dependent on Akmal or Malik? For instance:
Test:
... Sarfraz: 43.8 runs/in. SR 73, century: 1 in 11 comp ings.
... U Akmal: 35.8 runs/in. SR 66, century: 1 in 28 comp ings.
... S Malik: 35.1 runs/in. SR 46, century: 1 in 18 comp ings.
ODI:
... Sarfraz: 32.8 runs/in, SR 87, century: 1 in 21 comp ings.
... U Akmal: 34.6 runs/in, SR 86, century: 1 in 42 comp ings.
... S Malik: 34.66 runs/in, SR 81, century: 1 in 23 comp ings.
T20I:
... Sarfraz: 29.1 runs/in, SR 120.2, fifties: 1 in 5 comp ings.
... U Akmal: 26.8 runs/in, SR 122.9, fifties: 1 in 8 comp ings.
... S Malik: 26.7 runs/in, SR 113.2, fifties: 1 in 11 comp ings.
Plus: Sarfraz Ave, SR and conversion to 100 or 50, all are getting better with time in all formats.
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Sep 10, 2016 09:51am
Bad decision by PCB. They will spoil a winning team. Advice to Sarfraz is to play him as 12th Man and at no cost include him in the playing 11.
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Sep 10, 2016 11:31am
@Chishti Very true.Akmal brothers have a very bad track record.
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Sep 10, 2016 12:15pm
Last chance for shoeb Malik. Be prepared to announce retirement.
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Sep 10, 2016 03:46pm
Too early for his return, should have been left out for a year or so.
Him coming back after few months, he believes Pakistan can not do with out him.
How many times has he come back and it made no difference.
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Sep 10, 2016 09:13pm
pray, control your temperament,
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Sep 11, 2016 07:29pm
So it seems great Inzi is neither a good nor independent selector !!!! How on earth he can be selected for few performances against weak domestic teams??? What about repeated attitude and disciplinary issues ??? Simply unbelievable !!! Please give consistent chance to new talent, let them nourish and perform it is matter of time they can lift the team from number 9 to respectable position and ready for next WC. No more Afridi, Shahzad and Akmal brothers, please.
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