Umar Akmal ‘messed up’ for Pakistan, says Latif

Pakistan former captain Rashid Latif criticized batsman Umar Akmal for not taking finishing the game last night (Friday), which Pakistan lost by six runs against Australia at Dubai.

“I cannot expect from Mohammad Rizwan to hit big, but he did his job alongside Abid Ali and guided Pakistan comfortably. It was Umar Akmal, whose job was of a power hitter but he messed up the inning after he got out, and the next incoming batsman was Saad Ali, who cannot be blamed as he was a debutant,” said Latif, at Caught Behind.

Umar Akmal posted 7 runs off nine deliveries, before he got bowled by Coulter-Nile.

“I believe Abid Ali has punched his ticket to the World Cup,” said Latif, the former captain praised the performance of debutant Abid Ali and Mohammad Rizwan, who scored his second century of the series against Australia.

Ali, only drafted into the side two hours before the start after Imam-ul-Haq went down with fever, grabbed his opportunity, as he hit a century on debut becoming the 15th batsman to achieve the feat

Salim Elahi and Imam ul Haq were the other two Pakistani batsmen to score debut ODI tons.