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KARACHI: Pakistan’s most exciting batting talent Umar Akmal feels that he can play some major innings for the national team in the upcoming season as he is working hard to overcome his weaknesses.
Speaking to DawnNews, the middle-order batsman stated that he was trying very hard to improve his game in the ongoing fast track training programme, underway at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Umar is part of the training programme where the batsmen are being coached by chief selector Mohsin Khan and former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed. Umar feels that the camp is a step in the right direction and has helped him in ironing out his weaknesses.
Umar, who has been hailed as one of the brightest young batsmen around the world, made an impressive start to his international career two years ago when he scored a century in his maiden one-day series against Sri Lanka in 2009. He then followed it up with a brilliant hundred against New Zealand the same year.
However, despite the splendid start to his career, Umar has failed to make full use of his natural ability.
He has often been criticised for throwing his wicket away at crucial junctures and for not being able to build his innings after getting set.
Mindful of the chinks in his armour, Umar has now claimed that he has overcome the weaknesses and cricket fans will see him playing with a great deal of responsibility in the season ahead.
He also added that he was ready to don the wicket-keeping gloves whenever needed as he was confident of his abilities behind the stumps and was ready to answer any call made by the team management.
Umar concluded by stating that he was focusing on making a big impression in the upcoming international season and making full use of his talent in order to serve the country to the best of his ability.
