Umar Akmal: The boy who cried milestones

For a boy tipped to emulate the legends, termed the best piece of talent touching wood this decade, and one oozing unprecedented fearlessness – be it at the crease or with his choice of lip balm – Umar Akmal’s fall has been shocking.

Drafted into the side following Pakistan’s 2009 World Twenty20 triumph, Akmal – with age, confidence and domestic milestones on his side – was handed an opportunity not many Pakistani debutants are given – playing for a side in its ascent.

Impressing straight away

A 66 in his second One-Day International was immediately followed by a swashbuckling 102. A century on Test debut – with a 75 in the second-innings – away from home predicted laurels for the boy, still in his teens. And despite stumbles en route the achievements, it seemed that Akmal – once the dressing-room jester, the boy who refused to grow up and concentrate – could be handed a responsibility as huge as shouldering a nation’s hopes.

With 555 runs in his first five Tests, more of the same was predicted. However, as Pakistan fell away at the turn of the year, so did Akmal, in a manner wretched and mortifying for his fans and the team management — just 267 runs in his next eight Tests.

The change that did not come

The aggression and the willingness remained. But so did the reluctance to adapt and to adjust. It was believed that things had changed at the Wanderers against the West Indies, but then his youth caught up with him.

Akmal’s waning at international level can be partly blamed for the lack of experience around him. When he glowed, he had the radiance of Mohammad Yousuf or Misbahul Haq around him. But as the Pakistan Cricket Board went astray, the glow was reduced to a mere flicker.

A sensational title-winning maiden domestic season for SNGPL comprised a double century – with a second denied by the mischief mongers – and brought him 855 runs. There, around him, were experienced individuals. Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah, and Azhar Shafiq to an extent, nourished and guided him. It did not change his approach, and neither did the constant bellowing, but there existed options for the 17-year-old to turn to.

Not after the Australian whitewash. Temporal punishments meant a revamped batting order and suddenly, the apprentice became the mentor. Expectations grew and reached an inequitable high and he still spoke of confidence eloquently, striding to the crease. But as the results failed to come for Pakistan, the outcome affected Akmal too. This time, there was no radiance around him but just promising sparks. There were no branches he could cling on to but seedlings that needed his comfort. The coaches shared their experience but, going solo, Akmal had to manoeuvre, navigate and accomplish all alone.

The problems

The attitude, defiance and traces of arrogance emanating from the young blood have to be blamed but so are the circumstances. With glory and uninterrupted dose of admiration shoved his way – every comment about the youngster pointed to a godly future – the head was found somewhere in the skies.

Akmal realised he had something special in him but failed to implement that on a constant basis, a trait that was badly needed by Pakistan given the circumstances. The eagerness to be one above the competition existed but the drive to get on with things, ironically, hampered the progress.

For Akmal to revive his career, he needs support. Even Sachin Tendulkar had to rely on the experience en route providential ascent to the skies.

© Faras Ghani 2010Published in The Express Tribune Dec 19, 2011

Umar Akmal - The shining star

In the humiliation that the Pakistan cricket team has been on the receiving end since their World Twenty20 triumph last June, there has not been much to cherish and look at with a smile. Apart from a diving effort here, a brief cameo there and a win against India in South Africa, the smile has always been upside down.

There have been embarrassing losses, comic dismissals, flurry of dropped catches, ball-biting antics and a mortifying run of losses. However, amid the chaos, the disarray and the sense of abasement instilled into the team, a 19-year-old ray of light shone brightly from within the ruins since his debut against Sri Lanka last year.

It is hard to believe that Umar Akmal is still only 19 and carries so much responsibility within the team. His performance on the field — and antics off it — have been admired, questioned, scrutinised and lauded effortlessly. And it comes as no surprise that Umar was a talent identified ever since his first-class debut. Calls for prompt maturity triggered a premature death for his childhood. On the field, a 17-year-old had just scored 248 in only his sixth first-class match. In the dressing room, he was chased around after pouring water over a colleague and pinching another’s butt repeatedly. His talent, embellished aptly by his aggressive nature, was on show. But so was his refusal to mend his slashing ways. A Test century on debut, a coming of age against the West Indies and a duck against India, the youngest of the playing Akmals launched his cricket career in awe of his older brother Kamran.

“I started liking cricket after watching Kami bhai play,” he said. “Although I played for my school, my college and then a local club (Model Town Cricket Centre, one of the best clubs in Lahore according to Akmal) I was more than happy carrying drinks for my seniors for a couple of years just for the sake of watching them and learning the skills.”

His love for cricket resulted in Umar getting a lot of stick — verbally and physically — from Kamran but after repeated promises to his father, he was finally granted permission to play openly as opposed to sneaking out after school with Kamran forcing him to study and stay away from the sport. Lucky for him, help and support was always available.

“Apart from my brothers (Kamran and Adnan), my early mentors included Majeed bhai, my school coach Nadeem Zafar, Noshi, Khurram and Khalid; all of whom supported me at club level. As things moved on swiftly, and as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) offered me a contract, I owed much to Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq who ensured I learnt as each day progressed. They treated me like their brother in Kamran’s absence and I owe them a lot for my success.”

First-class debuts seldom come sweeter than Umar’s. Becoming the second-highest scorer in a title-winning debut season with SNGPL, his ascent was sharp and enviable. His 855 first-class runs included a 258 and 186 and “for a 17-year-old, that was as much joy as you can get”. After an encouraging tour of Sri Lanka, the under-19 World Cup presented Umar his first real challenge; one he was tipped to blast to all parts. However, life in the middle took a turn for the worse…

“The World Cup turned out to be fairly disappointing. There was a lot of expectation but I performed horribly and let the team down. I had learnt to handle pressure but I felt guilty. And when I was left out of the Pakistan Academy team following the World Cup, I was shattered but vowed to work harder, improve my cricket and make a comeback. I wanted to have a shot at the next under-19 World Cup, to show the world what I can do but thankfully, I got a chance at the senior level before that.”

His call-up to the national side, following success at the lower tier, did come as a huge shock to the teenager. The thought of playing alongside not only his brother but his idols — Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi — did bring tears to his eyes but not a bout of nervousness. “A huge honour for me, an indescribable feeling, I must say”. Smiles became beams and the little-known became a national star after stroking a stunning ODI century against Sri Lanka — setting the tone for what we were to be treated to in the coming weeks. A change in attitude — on and off the field — saw Umar go from strength to strength. No longer the spoilt brat in the domestic dressing room, Umar now carried hopes of millions. Written about in match previews before Afridi, spoken of during lunch breaks and waited for with impatience during the match, Umar has realised his worth, and what is expected of him.

“International cricket is never easy. There is a lot of pressure from everywhere: media, crowd and the need to carry the team with you. But I have learnt a lot from my short time in international cricket. Obviously, I’d like to play more for Pakistan, perhaps even move up the order like I do for SNGPL. I’ve been lucky to stay injury-free till now and am training in the off-season to ensure it stays that way. Cricket has been a fun ride for me so far and hopefully, things will only go up from here.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in Dawn newspaper, Apr 4, 2010

Yawar predicts bright future for team despite semi-final loss

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed rued his batsmen’s lack of planning during the semi-final against New Zealand which saw his team’s shock ouster from the ICC Champions Trophy but still predicted a bright future for the team in presence of some talented players in the ranks.

Speaking exclusively to Dawn following the five-wicket loss at The Wanderers that sealed Pakistan’s exit, Yawar, who confirmed it was his last tour with the team, was also shocked by some of the on-field decisions but refused to comment owing to strict ICC regulations.

“I shouldn’t be saying this but we should’ve planned this match slightly better,” Saeed said. “It’s not my job, it’s the coach’s but batting first, we should’ve made at least 260 or 270. We got bogged down in the middle and were lucky with the tail-enders who got us to the score that we managed. In this sort of game, you need to plan your scoring rate every ten overs. We failed and we went down.

“There are a few other things that also affected the match but I’m not allowed to comment on those. Everybody saw how things went along. Overall, it was very disappointing for me and the team as we didn’t make it to the final, something that we should’ve.”

Yawar, who has been involved in the team’s managerial role on-and-off for the last 26 years, predicted a bright future for the team, having witnessed the younger members outshine their senior team-mates.

Reserving special praise for Umar Akmal, who top-scored for Pakistan in the semi-final with a 62-ball 55, and Mohammad Aamir, with six wickets in three Champions Trophy matches, Yawar also lauded the team spirit and confidence, especially as Pakistan came into the tournament having lost the Test and ODI series against Sri Lanka.

“The Sri Lanka tour was poor for us since we lost matches we should’ve won. However, we made a strong start in South Africa and after we beat India, coupled with the elimination of South Africa and Sri Lanka, we thought we had a very good chance.

“Apart from the low score, we dropped a few catches and that’s the beauty of the game, you take an eye off it and you lose. It was satisfying in the sense that Pakistan doesn’t feature in semi-finals of ICC tournaments frequently so to do that in back-to-back tournaments is praiseworthy.

“We also had wonderful performances from the youngsters, especially Umar and Aamir. We currently have an under-19 team playing in Zimbabwe and I know that there are three to four players in that squad who can walk into the national side during the next six months.

“This is good for Pakistan cricket as well as our squad as it provides competition to both seniors and younger members. And it was because of the healthy competition that when we sat down to select playing elevens, for the first time ever we thought about who to drop and not who to play.

“With the World Cup under two years away, I hope the selectors take note of the youngsters and give them enough run in the senior squad for them to be able to perform in the tournament when it arrives.”

Yawar also confirmed he was leaving the manager’s post in the team with Shafqat Rana, the Associate Manager, widely tipped to take over for the series against New Zealand.

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper, Oct 7, 2009

I want to emulate Sachin’s 2003 feat in today’s clash: Younis

If wins could be traded for enthusiasm and courage, Younis Khan should collect the winner’s cheque following Pakistan’s crunch encounter against arch-rivals India at the Centurion today.

Younis confirmed his participation in today’s match after missing his side’s opening win against the West Indies due to a fractured finger. Advised four weeks’ rest, Younis remains adamant to play through the pain and hopes to emulate Sachin Tendulkar’s innings against Pakistan at the World Cup 2003 while leading his side to victory.

Pakistan come into the match following three consecutive wins on the tour, a feat alien to the team on tours. India, who claimed number one ranking in the ODI table following South Africa’s defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, were handed a 103-run loss by New Zealand in their only warm-up match. Younis, labelling the opposition the best team in the tournament, remains wary of the fightback India is capable of and opted to make himself available for the encounter despite the injury.

“If the opposition wasn’t India, I might have rested the fractured finger slightly longer,” Younis said in his pre-match conference after Pakistan’s training session. “It’s easy for me to run away from this and avoid the crunch match but I prefer to look at the bigger picture. I want to play, score a century, get the man-of-the-match award or just have a hand in leading Pakistan to victory. Not playing is not an option for me. I want to perform like Sachin did in 2003 against us so that people remember my innings just like they do his, especially given my fractured finger.”

Younis’ return is likely to mark the exit for Imran Nazir, the solitary specialist opener in the 15-man squad with Shoaib Malik likely to be promoted to open the innings with Kamran Akmal.

With Younis forming a formidable middle-order with Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq, with the in-form duo of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s vice-captain, to follow. The return from the 12-month ban of Mohammad Asif also poses a tricky dilemma for the team management, with the captain keen on drafting the lanky pacer into the side to face India. While shying away from naming the playing eleven, Younis, in an exclusive interview with Dawn, realised that playing Asif would be a huge risk given the stakes but a risk he was willing to take.

“Asif’s return is a welcome sign for us. He looked in good form during the training sessions and, despite his inclusion being a total gamble, it is a risk I’m willing to take. He may turn out to be our trump card and help us beat India or it may backfire badly. But in life, you need to take risks and I’d rather face the consequences in the worst-case scenario than regret not having gambled on him.”

The likely omission, if Pakistan were to include Asif in the squad, will be Rana Naved who had figures of 1 for 26 in the opening match.

Whatever the team combination, Younis has emphasised the need for his players to perform and enable Pakistan to come out on top — a win that, according to Younis, the nation badly Centurion: Pakistan captain Younis Khan (R) and fast bowler Mohammad Asif wait for their turn during a training session at SuperSport Park on Friday. Both will be key

needs. “We all know it’s a crunch match but there is no need to take any pressure. I have told my players the same thing to help motivate them and not take any unnecessary pressure which sometimes directly contributes to a side’s collapse.”

Younis reserved special praise for the younger Akmal, terming his calculated innings against West Indies (and unbeaten 41 off 51 balls) a great sign for the future. “He is a very energetic player and uses his brain well despite being very new to first-class cricket. He adapted well to conditions at the Wanderers, took his time settling in and then launched into his natural game.”

While India will be missing Virendar Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, much emphasis will be on Sachin Tendulkar who took Pakistan apart with a 75-ball 98 in 2003 and if he will be able to repeat his performance from six years ago at this ground.

The Pakistan captain, in awe of that innings and cherishing the chance to see Tendulkar in action once again, remained confident that it was the Indian batsman and not the Pakistan side that will be under pressure.

“As we know India will be without their key players and because of that, the onus will be on Sachin to perform and deliver. There’s nothing scary about him as he’s not a ghost and I’m actually happy when he scores

against us. It gives me pleasure to watch him bat and score and there’s a lot you can learn by watching him do just that. However, we’re playing against eleven men and not an individual so we need to look out for the whole team and not just a single batsman.”

While much will depend on the toss, with the lack of sunshine coming into the match likely to keep the pitch soft and difficult for batting, bowlers are still expected to be the underdogs with both teams fielding strong batting line-ups.

For India, it will be a case of carrying on from their Twenty20 win against Pakistan at The Oval in June. Pakistan, however, will be hoping for a lesson learnt, restricting the run-flow and hoping the wall crumbles against an unnerving and energetic bowling attack and an individual hoping to make amends for his actions just over twelve months ago.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 26, 2009

I was given a free hand at the crease: Umar Akmal

A fine unbeaten, match-winning innings on Wednesday against the West Indies further cemented dashing Umar Akmal’s place in the Pakistan one day side as the young batsman once again showed maturity beyond his age in his team’s opening game at the ICC Champions Trophy.

Countering a seemingly-innocuous bowling attack that had threaded through Pakistan’s strong batting line-up chasing a small total, Umar, playing only his fifth ODI, blended caution and aggression aptly and even left his captain, Shahid Afridi, subdued and in admiration.

“I was delighted to be part of the team and playing my first match in an ICC tournament,” Umar, who already has a century and a half-century in ODIs to his name, said after his 51-ball 41. “Our bowlers did a very good job but we struggled slightly with the bat. However, I must thank the team management for all the support as even before coming into bat, I was given a free hand and told to play my natural game.”

Umar, with a career strike-rate of almost 100, did curb his natural ways initially with Pakistan reeling at 61 for 4, Gavin Tonge having taken a career-best four wickets. Easing into his stay onto the pitch gradually, lofted, drove and flicked Pakistan towards the target, hitting six boundaries and carrying on the scintillating start to his international career.

“It was a difficult pitch with uneven bounce and light grass and the batsmen couldn’t hit freely,” Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s coach, said. “We created problems for ourselves. Most of our dismissals were due to reckless strokeplay as you had to wait for the ball to come onto you and play in the gaps. However, we bowled a good line after losing the toss and that ensured we were not chasing a mammoth total.

“I was impressed with the way Afridi captained the side too. It was a good decision by the board to appoint him captain following Younis Khan’s resignation after the World Twenty20 and that decision was part of future planning. Afridi showed a lot of maturity and responsibility and I’m sure he will get more chances in the future to show more of the same.”

Intikhab also reserved praise for Umar, who got hit on his finger by a beamer from Tino Best, while reminding the youngster of bigger tests that await — Pakistan’s next match at Centurion on Saturday which is against India. “Umar has done a great deal of work and performed well in a very short space of time. We expect great deal from him as he has a great future. However, we must not get complacent since we have a very important match coming up against India.”

While Younis looks all set to return from injury to play that crucial game — India’s opening match of the tournament — their opponents have injury concerns of their own. Already without the services of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India also lost Yuvraj Singh to a finger injury thus tilting the balance slightly in favour of Pakistan.

“Yuvraj has done wonders for Indian cricket and his services will be severely missed by the team,” Intikhab said. “However, these things happen in cricket and for it to matter in the end, we must ensure we don’t have hiccups as this is a great chance to beat India in an ICC tournament.”

Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif trained with the squad for the first time on Wednesday following the completion of a twelve-month ban for doping offence. Asif, despite the competitive-cricket drought, is match-fit and in contention of a place in the starting line-up for Saturday, according to Intikhab.

“Asif is completely match-fit as he has been training with the academy and club sides in Pakistan. It’s good to have him back and it will provide us with a welcome dilemma whether to include him or not in the team since our bowlers performed really well against West Indies.”

While the initial jitters and poor-starters tag was put to place in a flimsy manner, three points ensure Pakistan go to Centurion on Saturday beaming with confidence. A win will ensure Pakistan make it to the last four of the Champions Trophy for only the first time. A loss, however, will not only need a win against Australia in their final group match but also incur the fans’ wrath, especially with the support both teams are expected to have in the stands on Saturday.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 25, 2009.