Akmal wins high praise

Umar Akmal, aged just 19, showcases his "special" talent en route to a memorable century on his Test debut

Buy this photo

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam predicted a bright future for Umar Akmal following his stunning Test century on debut.

The 19-year-old hit 129 off 160 balls on day three of the first Test against New Zealand, an innings all the more impressuive given that it rescued Pakistan from the depths of 85 for five in reply to New Zealand’s 429.

“He is something very special and a very exciting player,” Intikhab said of Akmal after watching his side reach 307 for eight by stumps in Dunedin.

“He is a very hard working, very dedicated young person. He’s a very exciting cricketer. We are lucky to have him in the side and I think he’s got a great future for Pakistan.”

Akmal’s 176-run partnership with brother Kamran, who made 82, was central to Pakistan’s sterling recovery after Chris Martin removed openers Khurram Manzoor and Imran Farhat before lunch.

Things got worse when Shane Bond accounted for captain Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik in the space of 10 balls after the interval.

But Umar was unfazed, hitting his first ball for four, one of 16 in his innings to complement two sixes before he fell late in the day.

“The good thing about this youngster is that he never gets under pressure,” said Intikhab. “He played his own natural game.”

The 19-year-old spoke to his mother in Pakistan prior to the start of play and he dedicated his innings to his parents.

“His mother said she would be praying for him and she hoped that he would score some runs. She told him to just relax and take it easy but he didn’t listen to her,” said Intikhab.

Bond marked his first Test appearance for two years following a ban for playing in the rebel Indian Cricket League by claiming four wickets.

“I probably didn’t expect to bowl 24 overs but I’m pretty happy to come through that,” said the 34-year-old. “My body felt pretty good the whole day and it’s always nice to get wickets. I really enjoyed it.

“We just had to make a conscious effort to run in hard and bowl aggressively on that wicket.

“It was a case of just trying to run in and hit the deck. Sometimes you leak a few runs doing that but I think you give yourself the best chance of taking wickets.”