“I still wonder what I did wrong and where I went wrong to be dropped from Test side”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal believes that he still has a future in Test cricket despite not having played the format for almost six years.
Akmal began his Test career on a high as he struck a century on debut at the age of 19 against New Zealand in November 2009.
But, he was unable to make another triple figure score in his next 15 innings and ended up being dropped after the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in September 2011.
While he has been in and out of Pakistan’s limited overs squads, the 26-year-old believes that his batting style is best accustomed to Test cricket.
“I still wonder what I did wrong and where I went wrong to be dropped from Test side,” Akmal said in Dubai, where he is representing the Lahore Qalandars in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). “They only dropped me saying that I am not suitable for Test cricket because I don’t hold back, which is required in Tests.
“But the approach to playing Test cricket has changed over the years. Now teams score 350 or so in one day and matches hardly go into fifth day. I was playing the very same brand of cricket, which was actually evolving at that time, but I was dropped because I play fast and not the conventional way. Was that my mistake? If so, then the whole world has now adapted this modern form of cricket in Tests as well.”
On Sunday, Akmal was dismissed for a duck against Peshawar Zalmi and subsequently gained the record of the most ducks in Twenty20 cricket with 24.
Akmal’s shot selection has also been a major talking point and he has been heavily criticised for taking an aggressive approach in all situations.
Responding to this, Akmal said: “I am not careless, just playing my natural game. If I am asked to score ten per over then what you expect from me? Should I play for myself, score at five, and let the run rate mount on my team? No, I rather go out, play big, and try to achieve my team’s requirement.
“And we all know where I play [in the batting order], at which number. People often compare me with other batsmen but why don’t people realise that the number I bat at is critical and there is the burden of extra responsibility.
“I still try to help my team out of pressure situations by pushing back the opponent, but sometimes I am not able to do so. But my intentions are clear that I want to play for my team according to the requirement and will play my shots.”
In addition to his attacking nature with the bat, fitness has also let Akmal down as in his last assessment, he weighed 91kg and had a fat-level reading of 115.6. Anything over 100 is considered to be high.
Akmal, though, defended his fitness levels, saying: “If you talk with different players around the world, some are slightly bulky and some are smart in physique, but that doesn’t mean weight defines their actual fitness. I don’t remember going off the field in a game, or conceding a second run. I am energetic in the field and my running between the wickets is fine as well.
“So what exactly do you expect from me? To be smart and thin, why? I can quote you many examples in which those players are theoretically fit but cannot even clear the circle. I have a natural body and if I try to reduce it I may lose my strength for power hitting.”