I want to be a Test star, says Umar Akmal

Our Staff Reporter LAHORE - Umar Akmal's attacking tendencies mean many regard him as limited-overs specialist, but it's on the Test stage that the right-hander wants to shine. Akmal has had mixed success during his 15-Test career, scoring a century on debut but then managing just six half-tons thereafter. However, the 21-year-old is determined to improve his standing in the five-day game. "Test cricket is the pinnacle for any cricketer. One day and Twenty over cricket are also very popular but Test cricket is the real deal," Akmal was quoted as saying in an interview with a website on Friday. "Test cricket is where I really want to make my name and that format of the game is where I feel I can achieve the most. I want to improve my record in Test cricket and become a better Test batsman. I've only played 15 Tests and am still learning the game but I feel I can definitely make great strides in the longer format of the game and show my worth and prove to everyone that I have the skill and temperament to play five day cricket." Having just returned home from Pakistan's tour to the Caribbean, Akmal admitted that he didn't perform quite as well as he would have liked, notching up 166 runs at an average of 41.50 in the two Test matches and scoring 71 runs at 35.50 in the four ODIs. "I felt the tour could have gone better for me," he conceded. "I'm not entirely satisfied with my performance in the Caribbean, but there again not totally unhappy with it. It was an average tour but I need to move on and look ahead to the future."

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