Lahore, April 21 (TNS): Pakistan middle-order batsman Umar Akmal believes that his performance in upcoming Pakistan Cup will force selectors to take him on the team.
The 27-year-old middle-order batsman said that he hasn’t given up hopes for Pakistan return as he vows to perform well in the upcoming domestic tournament. “I will do well in Pakistan Cup and force the selectors to take me on.”
Speaking about Head Coach Mickey Arthur, Umar Akmal said, “I like him as a coach but I don’t know why he has issues with me.”
“I can’t say much about [Mickey Arthur] but I am insistent on what I said before.”
“If you look at my last four Test innings, I scored 3 fifties and did not get to bat in one inning. So at that point, Waqar Younis said that Umar is no longer a Test player,” Umar said. “This you must ask them [other coaches] why I was not selected for Tests but I am not giving up hope.”
While giving his views on Fakhar Zaman’s selections in the Test squad, he said Fakhar should not be played as an experiment but given a proper chance.
Umar insisted that if Fakhar has been selected, then give him at least 3-4 series to settle in succeed and not sideline if he fails in one or 2 Tests.
“If you look at how Fawad Alam has maintained his average as a middle-order batsman and has performed with consistency in our domestic cricket which is very difficult, it is a shocking news for me that he hasn’t been selected, Umar said.
“Fawad is an amazing human being and the way he respects youngsters and seniors alike, is exceptional” he added.
