The Pakistan cricketer was lauded by Ramiz Raja, but he also held him up as a ‘wasted talent’ example.
Ramiz Raja, a former head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), praised experienced Pakistani batter Umar Akmal for his explosive innings while playing for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Premier League (PSL) match against Islamabad United. Akmal’s 43 runs came off only 14 deliveries, giving him an incredible strike rate of 307.14. He hit two fours and five sixes in his innings. He was one of Raja’s favorite players back when he first picked up a cricket bat, but Raja always felt he could have done more with his career.
When I think of incredible ability that has been wasted, I think of Umar Akmal’s narrative. But there’s a lesson here for all the players: “If you’re not disciplined and you can’t zip your mouth while playing, then there’s a bigger possibility that you’ll be on the receiving end of injustice—quite a bad scenario,” he was cited as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
When he first started playing cricket, he quickly became one of my favorites, and today we got a taste of the immense skill he possesses. He annihilated the best bowling attack for Islamabad United,” he continued.
Raja added that he is unsure of his own future, but said he wished the best for Akmal’s PSL career now that he has addressed his fitness concerns.
As of right now, there is no bigger match-winner than Umar Akmal in Pakistan, whether he is batting at number six or seven. I have no idea what the future holds for him.
Although he has struggled with his physical health, he also has a serious disciplinary issue. Playing cricket requires you to ignore everything around you, but after the game is over, you’re free to share whatever thoughts come to mind. “He needs to learn to rein in his combative nature,” he remarked.
