Okay hear me out before bashing me please 

First this thread is not to ridicule him, or the way he plays. Neither I am blind hater, nor am I a blind fan. I see things for what they are.

The Facts :

1. How long has U.Akmal been in the side? Perhaps close to 3 years.
2. years he has been in the side playing at 5 or 6.

3. He himself said he wants to move up the order.

4. His results , while not being overly great, are good enough. More was expected, but he is doing ok so far.

The Big Picture.

1. Umar Akmal is an aggressive one day batsmen. He does not like quiet periods. He struggles when he is kept quiet.

2. Even when he comes down the order at 5 or 6, he goes in the air for 4 or 6. It is those cross batted heaves or ugly slogs that give his innings the momentum.

3. He is not a finisher but an aggressive batsmen which gives the innings impetus.

4. He is waste down the order at 5 or 6 where he doesn't have enough time to construct the innings.

5. Hafeez is misfiring as opener. We need some aggressive player down the order so Kami should stay at number 6 with Hafeez replacing U.Akmal as opener.

Why shouldn't he play at 4?

Because Pakistan more often than not, lose their 4 or 3 wickets quickly. To ask Umar Akmal to curb his natural game because his team mates messed up is not fair to the lad. He is a natural stroke player. He is wrong to come at 4 or 5.

Why shouldn't he play at 3?

Number 3 is the critical position in the team. I am sorry to say this, but in these 3 years he has not given one iota of proof to convince me that he is good when it comes to handling pressure and responsibility. In fact it's the counter argument that works more here. That at the moment he is not good enough at 3. Later on in the years, when he curbs his natural aggression, and decided to build an innings, he can become Pakistan's natural number 3 

Why as opener? 

A person with natural stroke making ability should not be wasted down the order, nor should he be played at 3, which is a responsible position. Up the order, he has the license to strike. He can play those ugly slogs, or he can take one's and two's.

He can also prove or disprove the theory that he is good enough to play good fast bowlers.


The final analysis

My person opinion is I would give U.Akmal a run of 15 games as opener. If he doesn't succeed, hey he can always go back to number 5.But if he succeeds, he can give Pakistan innings the momentum it so desperately lacks at the start of the innings. He doesn't need to finish games.


Now you guys can crucify my thoughts : )

Opinions?