Akmal Applauds Amir’s Dismissal of Babar Azam

LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal has commended Mohammad Amir, the Quetta Gladiators’ fast bowler, for his recent performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Akmal specifically praised Amir’s compelling performance against prominent batter Babar Azam.

In a statement on his YouTube channel, Akmal lauded the left-arm pacer for the manner in which he dismissed Babar, describing it as a demonstration of Amir’s sustained excellence.

Akmal’s Observations

“The true quality of top bowlers and batters is evident when they compete against each other,” Akmal stated.

He noted that Amir has consistently challenged Babar, exposing vulnerabilities. While Babar began confidently, Amir retaliated powerfully, securing his wicket stylishly.

“Following the dismissal, Amir celebrated by gesturing towards the dressing room, seemingly indicating a prearranged strategy. It was as if he was conveying to the coaching staff, ‘The tiger remains a threat,’” Akmal observed.

Akmal, 34, characterized the competition between the two players as a treat for cricket enthusiasts.

“It’s captivating to observe elite players in competition. The authentic class of distinguished batters and bowlers surfaces when they are tested by worthy opponents,” he added.

The wicketkeeper batter also voiced criticism regarding Peshawar Zalmi’s lackluster showing in PSL Season 10, attributing it largely to the inconsistency of their opening batters.

“Zalmi’s subpar performance is primarily due to the insufficient run production from Babar Azam and Saim Ayub. Their struggles are applying undue pressure on the rest of the batting lineup. I frankly don’t comprehend their team selection approach,” he stated.

In a broader critique of cricket administration, the 34-year-old urged Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to recruit skilled and dedicated professionals.

“Currently, individuals within the board are receiving substantial salaries while contributing minimally. Their inadequate advice is detrimental to Pakistan cricket. It would be considerably more beneficial to allocate resources to junior-level tournaments that can genuinely benefit the sport,” he concluded.