Umar has to decide his own fate: Misbah

KARACHI: Pakistan’s head coach Misbahul Haq on Tuesday urged troubled batsman Umar Akmal to discipline himself and focus on his cricket if he wants to revive his derailed career.

Regarded as hugely talented, the 29-year-old Umar could face up to a lifetime ban after he was charged for not reporting match fixing offers, which led to his suspension in February. The Pakistan Cricket Board charged him under their anti-corruption code. The PCB said in a press release on Tuesday that it has received Umar’s response to the notice of charge, which was issued on March 17.

Head coach Misbah said Umar has to decide his own fate. “You and I can’t do anything,” Misbah told media. “Umar has to decide himself, show discipline and focus on his cricket. “He has to take a decision whether he wants to remain like this... He has shown good performances but needs to improve his fitness, discipline and commitment.”

Umar started his career with a bang, scoring a century on his debut in New Zealand in 2009, but frequent disciplinary problems cost him a place on the national side. He was also charged and arrested after a scuffle with a traffic warden in 2014. Three years later he was sent back from England for being unfit.

Cricinfo adds from Lahore: Cricket has come to an indefinite halt, globally, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, and no one knows when the game will resume.

What is a player to do in this unfamiliar and frankly scary situation? Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s coach and chief selector, has one bit of advice for his players: think of this break as a “chance to reinvigorate yourself.”

The break, Misbah feels, will help players recharge their batteries away from the otherwise ceaseless workload of the game, and make them hungrier than ever when cricket eventually resumes.

“Going forward, I feel mentally what players are thinking is the most important aspect,” Misbah told Cricinfo. “I will be emphasising that you’ve got to believe in yourself and stay positive. Yes, it’s a tough situation but at the same time consider this break a chance to reinvigorate yourself. Several players have been playing consistently and we all need a break from the load of cricket.

“We will be speaking with players and instilling this in their mind that you are not going to forget your basics, and your game and skillsets will remain with you. All you have to do is analyse yourself, and we will help them with feedback from watching their videos. This break will basically spark more hunger in them, and they will want to play with heart when they return to action. Intrinsically a passionate sportsperson doesn’t want to sit idle, that’s natural, and once you’ve held him back for some time he will come back with more intensity than ever.”

While the current situation lasts, most of Pakistan’s players will have no way to practise their cricketing skills. In order that they don’t lose their rhythm completely, Misbah said it was important for them to know their own game inside-out.

“Obviously you need practice, that is integral,” he said. “But when you thoroughly know your basics — your feet movements, point of release, your stance, understanding the bowlers — all this is imprinted in your mind, and it’s not really hard to return to the game. You don’t need a lot of time to get back in your groove, it’s just the basics in your mind that will drive you.

“So knowing in your mind about the mechanics of your game makes it easy to come back. Obviously you need practice to shake off the rustiness but it becomes easier if you have a full knowledge of your game. So this is the time to know your own game, and if you are clueless about yourself and how you do things then it’s very difficult for you to pick up the game and start where you left off. This is the time to understand yourself and break it down in your mind, and life will be easier going forward.”