Ramiz Raja – Umar Akmal’s story is a literal definition of great talent but wasted talent
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Ramiz Raja showered praises on veteran Pakistan batter Umar Akmal for his blazing innings for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Islamabad United but also ended up calling him a “wasted talent”.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Ramiz Raja showered praises on veteran Pakistan batter Umar Akmal for his blazing innings for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Islamabad United but also ended up calling him a “wasted talent”.
Akmal was in excellent form as he scored 43 runs off just 14 deliveries and finished with an exceptional strike rate of 307.14. Two boundaries and five massive sixes were part of his innings.
Raja called him one of his favorite players when he first began playing cricket but also lamented that he did not achieve as much as he should have.
“Umar Akmal’s story is a literal definition of great talent but wasted talent, unfortunately. However, there is a lesson for all the players, if you are not disciplined and if you cannot zip your mouth while playing, then there is a larger probability that you will be at the receiving end of injustice- quite an unfortunate scenario,”
he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“He was one of my favorite players when he started cricket, and we all saw a glimpse today of how much talent he carries. He destroyed Islamabad United’s finest bowling attack,”
he added.
Raja also expressed that he does not know what the future holds for him but hoped for Akmal to get over his fitness concerns to have a more successful PSL career.
“I am not sure what the future holds for him – will he be able to become an asset for us or not, but in today’s date, there is no bigger match-winner than Umar Akmal in Pakistan – playing at 6 or 7.”“There have been fitness issues with him, but there is a discipline problem as well. You are supposed to play cricket with blinkers on; once you quit playing cricket, you are free to give any kind of opinion. He needs to control his quarreling attitude,”
he said.