Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was willing to give the benefit of doubt to his young Twenty20 International side after a stinging defeat by six wickets to Australia last night, but admitted he was baffled by the repeated failures of Umar Akmal.
The Pakistan wicket keeper-batsman is considered one of the top talents in the T20 format. In the previous meeting between the two teams – in March this year at the ICC World T20 Cup – Akmal smashed 94 and single-handedly turned the game in his side’s favour.
But yesterday, with his side in trouble at 33-4 in the seventh over, Akmal (one) played an audacious shot and skied the fifth ball he faced to mid-off.
“Obviously, it was not an ideal start. Ours is a very young, inexperienced batting line and we were hoping they would come good. But these are early days,” Younis said.
“We did not bat well, and that was a disappointment, but full credit to the Australians for bowling well. We just did not get the momentum.
“Akmal’s performance is a worrying sign for us. We really have to sit down and think hard about his batting, as well his wicket-keeping. We all speak about his talent, and he has not really delivered. I think we need to speak to him and try different things with him.”
“I am sure we will bounce back from this in the ODIs. We did not bowl too badly tonight and that is a good sign. Now we just need to make sure we bat for the 50 overs in the ODIs,” Younis added.