Umar Akmal promises not to disappoint Pakistan selectors if he gets another chance

He has represented Pakistan in 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is so far.

Akmal missed the opportunity during Sri Lanka series | PCB

Out of favour Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has promised to give his best, as well as, to not disappoint the national selectors and management if he is given an opportunity in international cricket again.

His comment came after the 29-year-old cracked a century (unbeaten 117) in his 100th first-class appearance during a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match between Central Punjab and Sindh at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, November 20.

The wicket-keeper batsman was awarded Pakistan recall to cement his place in the national squad during the Sri Lanka T20I series, but he let the opportunity go in vain with two back to back ducks.

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Following his dismal show, Pakistan’s head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq had to face severe criticism for wasting the opportunity on him and Ahmed Shehzad during the home series.

However, he has now found his form with the bat in the domestic circuit and sounded optimistic about his return to Pakistan squad, saying he will try to give his best if he gets picked while regrets missing the opportunity during the Sri Lanka series.

Akmal told reporters after scoring season’s first red-ball century off 85 balls on Wednesday about his failures in his international comeback series: “Luck wasn’t on my side”  

He continued, “I am happy to be scoring a century in my 100th first-class match, I am playing my natural game and it is helping me score good runs.”

Akmal signed off by saying, “My job is to give performance and every time I am there [on the field], I try to give my best. It is up to the selectors if they pick me for the team or not, but I will try to give my best whenever I am picked again.”

(With The News Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 21 Nov, 2019

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