Sports

Let me play at number three and Kohli on six, then compare: Umar Akmal

Pakistan middle-order batsman believes comparison with India skipper is faulty

Sports Desk February 22, 2017

Umar Akmal believes comparison with Virat Kohli is faulty. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan middle-order batsman Umar Akmal said he does not like to be compared with India skipper Virat Kohli despite the former’s match-winning performance in the Pakistan Super League tie between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United on Monday.

The Lahore Qalandars’ hard-hitter believes that the comparison is faulty since both batsmen play at different numbers.

“When people compare me to Kohli, it’s a matter of number,” he said after posting 66 from 42 deliveries in Qalandars’ one-wicket win. “Since Kohli’s debut he is batting at number three and I have been batting at number six. Let me play at number three slot and him on six, then compare me with him.”

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While Kohli has amassed 7,755 runs from 179 ODI matches, Akmal has scored 3,044 runs from 116. Meanwhile, in T20Is, the Indian batsman has gathered 1,709 runs from 48 matches, whereas the Pakistani stroke maker has scored 1,690 runs in 82 caps.

Moreover, Akmal added that the right man for comparison with Kohli would be Pakistan’s top-order batsman Babar Azam, who has made strides in international cricket in the past few months.

Umar Akmal eyes return to Test fold

“Compare Kohli with Babar Azam, who is doing well at three,” said Akmal. “He is in great form so you can compare him with Babar and not me.”

This article originally appeared on Gulf News

COMMENTS (50)

ARFAN ASLAM khan | 7 years ago | Reply As a Pakistani,I can say without any hesitation that Kohli is far too good than any of pakistani player at the moment.Kohli is in the league of his own,People who compare him with pakistani players should be ASHAMED.all I can say to all the Pakistani player is concentrate on improving their batting and bowling.Good luck

Sam | 7 years ago | Reply Scored in one game and he is talking crap again. This comment also shows he is not capable of adjusting to situation. You dont improvise and rotate the strike. Why would you be sent at #3? Its Baber Azam's position. He grabbed the oppertunity while tou just keep on squandering it again and again and again...

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M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply Only a stupid would compare him with Kohl.

Faisal Afzal | 7 years ago | Reply The real question is...who is comparing Akmal with Kohli? They're in two different classes, there is no comparison.

Ahmar Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Umar Akmal isn't even the best batsman in Pakistan let alone comparing himself to the best batsman in the world.

Billa | 7 years ago | Reply This news was only publish to wind up Indians and to provoke a reaction from them.

LOL | 7 years ago | Reply @Rahul: You should also remember the reply of that 83 that we got. Your team was 3 wickets down for two runs while chasing that low total courtesy the empire decision if he would've given Kohli out who knows what could've been the result of that match and don't forget about the 3 match series against us in which your home based cheeti team wasn't able to cross 200 in any match.

faisal | 7 years ago | Reply Apparently Umar Akmal has not learn't anything. He refuses to grow up or mature with time. Wasting his own talent.

Umar Akmal | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: Yes , You are so much better than us . Yet you stalk our websites. Why cant you read your own superior news papers. Why waste your superior time on us?

FAZ | 7 years ago | Reply @Truth: Yes, I should. As a nation we should set ourselves higher targets as both Japan and South Korea have bigger GDP's than Pakistan. But i do have some brains to do that in an approriate forum. PS: The news is about Umer Akmal comparing himself with Virat Kohli.

Giri | 7 years ago | Reply Umar Akmal is man of talent, integrity and hard work. He is sidelined due to PCB politics. He should be given a spot that he wants to prove his mettle. PCB should replace two old people managing affairs. People like Akmal are future of Pak cricket.

Pure Ind | 7 years ago | Reply @Mohammed: sure buddy we love it such a comic relief after a tiring day at work,

Dr Ahad | 7 years ago | Reply Kohli is in a totally league dude. You should just compare with yourself with your brothers. Even then probably Kamran would be better. What a joke Kohli and Akmals

Diva | 7 years ago | Reply @lol Im an Indian.No need for false bravado.We need to atleast move to upper middle income level in percapita before even comparing with other nations.Let Pakistanis think about India whatever they want.

Truth | 7 years ago | Reply @FAZ: Same applies to you. Compare Pakistan with countries like Japan and South Korea.

Asad Hasan | 7 years ago | Reply Umar shouldn't even be in the team in any format. He has had enough chances, and has always let the team down. This is his last gasp attempt to hoodwink the public and get another chance/s. Lest he thinks the public has forgotten his (supposed) back pain, when Kamran Akmal was dropped, it remains a black mark against him. It is only due to poor and weak BCP management that they let him get away with it. In any other team, he would have been sent packing long time back!

Mohammed | 7 years ago | Reply Indians must be loving Pakistani news papers. They seem to spend so much time on it.

azmat | 7 years ago | Reply He may not be as good as Kohli bu the point he has raised are very valid. As far as the people comparng him Dhoni is concerned, yes its a fair comparison but he did not say anything about Dhoni in his interview. May be if you do the comparison, he may concede by saying that Yes Dhoni is greater (or probably the greatest to have ever played the game in my opinion playing at that position). Kophli without a shadow of a doubt is the best batsman in the world, but his overall test record (If you go by the statistics) does not reflect the bastman that he is.

Zain | 7 years ago | Reply Umer n Kamran Akmal both have been given millions of chances to come back in team but all the time both of them miserably failed but due favouritism n nepotism both the brothers always sneak back through back doors. Such players block the way for new talent to come up. Moreover how many matches r there in which both brothers contributed in winning for Pakistan. Very very very few. Umer Akmal has never been a match winner. Both the brothers only play individual cricket not for the team. Drawing comparison between Kohli n Umer is totally unjust. Umer will hav to move thousand miles more prior comparison with world class players.

Manu | 7 years ago | Reply He doesn't even match MS Dhoni who bats at no.6 or 7, then he might say that he needs to be a captain and wicketkeeper to be like Dhoni.

k | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: As an Bharatiya myself let me remind you, May be Pakistan doesnt stand a chance in Education, science,Tech, Industrial development, economy etc, But I AM PRETTY SURE ONE DAY PAKISTANI TEAM WILL BOUNCE BACK IN CRICKET. Nothing better then watching great Pakistani bowlers against Great Indian Batting lineup(recalling my 90s). DEAR PAKISTAN PLEASE PLEASE GIVE US THE COMPETITION IN CRICKET, I WANT TO SEE THE LEGENDS LIKE WASEEM BHAI etc

emmess | 7 years ago | Reply Umar you have committed a royal crime by comparing yourself with Kohli. He is in a different league. Look at your record dude and shut up!!!!

Yasir | 7 years ago | Reply @lol Your are the one who's on our "Pakistani" website and labeling us as indian obsessed. Typical indian mentality... Thanks PAKISTANI

Feroz | 7 years ago | Reply If Akmal is so confident he can produce results like Kohli batting at No 3 he must approach his skipper tell him he can bat like Kohli and get promoted to No 3. No skipper will object to promoting him if he is convinced with the argument. However claims made off the field is no substitute for performance on the field. For others to catch up with Kohli they will need the same level of discipline and work ethic, very few even though more talented could do it.

Bilal | 7 years ago | Reply Talking about Babar Azam, we all saw how he celebrated his century in the final ODI against Australia. It was very clear that his only target in the match was to score a century. He was not at all concerned about winning the match for Pakistan. The match was already out of our hands when he scored the century.

AD | 7 years ago | Reply Every third shot he plays is an aerial shot,even when team needs singles or just someone to stay on crease. The running between the wickets is really bad.He has only few shots in his kitty.Any coach and captain will play him at number 6. You need your number 3 who can bat long and can run long with having shots all around the park.This super fit gentleman would probably have his tongue out after running single on every ball of an over.

FAZ | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: Your comparision of India, eight times in sheer size and over 10 times in population with Pakistan is itself a lol moment for all of us here in Pakistan! I just wonder you are an eight year old as an excuse for not grading your comment as a rant! Grow up. Look around. See China first

SHUBH | 7 years ago | Reply Dhoni stats on various batting order Position Highest Score 2 96 3 183 4 109 5 124 6 88 7 139

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply @Pakistani: "How about good looks? There is no comparison there either between Pakistan and India." India has won 2 Miss universe 5 Miss World 1 Miss Earth How many international beauty contests has Pakistan won??? Besides good looks don't always guarantee success. Is that all you got??? Warm regards Rahul

Lalit | 7 years ago | Reply If Kohli ties his one hand and one leg,he will still outscore this pathetic excuse for a batsman...

Usama | 7 years ago | Reply This guy is funny and immature he must have skipped school.

Yasser | 7 years ago | Reply Who is the sensible person comparing him to Kohli? Kohli has become a legend with his performance, while Akmal is considered a selfish player who plays for himself

Ravian | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: If you are superior, why do you spend time on Pakistani news sites?? Are there no good news sites in India??

Ravian | 7 years ago | Reply There is no comparison at all................

Fact is Fact | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: the most we are compared to indians is by the indian media.. don't know why but truth be told and that is pakophobia that india has.

KARMA | 7 years ago | Reply ...Now lets compare this Akmal with No.6 batsman Dhoni....is he anywhere close to Dhoni?

Nauman | 7 years ago | Reply I think that if he is very confident than he should be given chance to open the innings as Sharjeel won't be playing anymore. Maybe he can make a change. At least he won't complain again if he fails and if he succeeds than good for us

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: How about good looks? There is no comparison there either between Pakistan and India. Warm Regards, Pakistani

salman | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: ohhh than what's the obsession towards Pakistan so much ?

Danish | 7 years ago | Reply Records speak for themselves and you have been around for nearly a decade with nothing to shos for. You are not even half the player Kholi is in any shape or form - not talent, cricketing sense and most importantly - discipline. We have always valued flare over consistency and hence dumb wits like afridi and akmal are given priority over the likes of Younis and Misbah.

Ahsan | 7 years ago | Reply He is only making fool of himself. It will be disrespect to Kohli by comparing him with Umer Akmal.

Fact is Fact | 7 years ago | Reply How could babar azam cemented his place at no.3 and this guy couldn't. The answer is you have to earn the place no matter where you play..

Fact is Fact | 7 years ago | Reply even at 3, this guy seems so arogant that he loses his control. Kohli make use of his arrogance to play better so much so that Australia will have to change their strategy towards him

Saquib | 7 years ago | Reply Umar Akmal - you talk too much & thats your problem. You are not 50% of what Virat Kohli is today & even if you bat from Number 1 to Numeber 11 you cannot be compared to him. Not a chance - he is in a different league of great cricketers,

Revenge | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistanis are obsessed with Kohli, Kohli won't play according to Akmal or whatever.

Fahad | 7 years ago | Reply what a clown he is...instead of improving his game and being consistent he just wants himself to be compared with Kohli from time to time. Cheap publicity stunts.

lol | 7 years ago | Reply Dear Pakistanis, Whether its Economy, Defence, Bollywood or Cricket (Kohli).... you are no match to INDIA! Its end of comparison... get over it! Warm Regards, Indian

Zaida Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply Forget Kohli. Why don't you try to beat Dhoni at No.6?

Ashraf P | 7 years ago | Reply Umar thinks he is better then Kohli? LOL !! I support my team but this is too much.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply Umar Akmal batting at number six for Pakistan, is as good as batting at number three for any other country because the Pakistani top order is so fragile that even before the new ball loses its shine Pakistan are already four down within the first 10 overs which would usually bring number 6 to the crease. In the T20 Asia Cup last year in the India vs Pakistan match Umar Akmal came to the crease when Pakistan were 35/3 in 5.5 overs. So he had more than 14 overs to play and yet he got out on the 4th ball he faced making only 3. The whole team got bundled out for 83. Excuses excuses Mr. Akmal.

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